When to move plants?

I have several things I want to move this year, but not exactly sure if this is the right time. Like Butterfly bushes, Hibiscus and Fountain grass.
Is this the right time??

Also what is the best time to root Butterfly bushes?? I've done it before, but can't remember when it was.

Thanks for the help!

Molly, I'm getting ready to move some things. We still might have a bad time ahead, but it will be short and sweet. Not sure about hibiscus, but I'm moving some grass this weekend and some other perennials. (Unless someone comes in here and raps me on my fingers and says NO)

I have to keep telling myself that we had a blizzard in March before! So I wont get carried away out there lol
I think I am going to try moving the grass this weekend too, looks like we are in for a somewhat warm weekend! yippeeee!
LOL If you do get rapped on the fingers....be sure and let me know, so I can not do what you did LOL

I can't wait to get back outside. I worked out there Wed and I have to remind myself....slow and easy at first! I forget!
We're going to have to cut grass this weekend (okay, the tall weeds, the 'grass' is a low grower)
I promised DH last year that we didn't need a small tiller, we had all established beds, don't waste your money!!!! well, of course I have the largest bed, it's getting totally cleaned out for brug seedlings and I sure wish I had a small tiller this weekend:) me and my big mouth lol

I was thinking about renting a tiller for a weekend. I am wanting to make me a jungle out there this year!! I have so many things I want to thin out and move...therefore I need a new bed or 2 or 3 LOL I want soo many beds that I only have a small pathway in between each one! I know weeding will be a problem...but at this point I don't care I just want a jungle! I just want to steer clear of the streamline beds...all straight and plain looking! I want design! lol

Mollybee, the best time to move bushes and any plants here in GA is in the fall. That way they have the whole winter to get established before the heat starts.
If you are moving things in the spring, sooner is better. Put as much time between the move and the scorching heat as you can.

I have been rooting some butterfly bushes this winter, and some now. The easiest way for me is to use 3 to 4 inch cuttings. Cut them about a 1/4 inch under a node where the stem is getting semi woody, then keep in water until the stem starts to swell and break some roots. When the roots are 1/4 to 1/2 inch long pot them up and they will take off.
It can take any where from 2 to 4 weeks for the roots to start to form.
I don't have much luck starting directly in soil. They either dry up, or rot.
Good luck.
Kerstin

Thanks Kerstin, I was hoping to move one of my big butterfuly bushes before it gets too hot. Or I wanted to cut it back and try rooting some of the limbs. It has really grown in the past 2 years and now it has outgrown its bed. Should I just cut it back now or try digging it up? Do you think that will stop the blooms from blooming?
Thanks for the help!

Cutting it back will only delay blooming for a while. It will not stop it. Actually, most people cut them back to a foot or so in the spring. You can cut it back several times during the summer if you want it bushier.
Sometimes I chop mine back in the summer just to get more flowers. I only do a few at a time though.
I never moved a butterfly bush, but if you are going to do it, don't wait.

Yea, I am thinking of moving it tomorrow. And if all else fails I will have some cuttings for back up plants.
Thanks ya'll!

I dug up my entire butterfly garden march before last. Normally I would not do that, but we had a warm spell. I moved 13 butterfly bushes (with most of the soil in tact). I have not had much luck with woody cuttings, but do very well with softwood cuttings in spring as they are emerging. I place them behind the house where they get bright light but no direct sunlight and make sure to keep them watered. :) Too bad you are so far away! I would lend you my tiller.

lol Thanks Badseed. What a sweet offer. I wished we lived closer too, not just because of the tiller though.
Soon as it warms up a little I'm heading out there to get started.
Thanks for the help!

I wish we lived closer so I could borrow her tiller!!!!! hehehe

Hey, you guys have been trying to get me to move to GA well, you never told me there was a TILLER involved...! Now, I will have to give it some serious thought... John

O nooo that means we have to talk Badseed into moving here too lol!

Molly I am (or my buddliea is) in the same position. I have one near the front porch I have to move for the same reasons you stated. I wonder how big the root ball is going to be or do I need a fork lift truck!! :-) Boy, that Badseed must have some muscle power!!

Have you thought about what you are going to do with yours Louisa?

I'm going to cut it all main branches back to about 12 inches and then move it. We still have ice on the ground after a very cold night so dare not do it yet - maybe next week. Or maybe I won't move it at all, depends on man power!! lol!!

lol Good luck with your's!

You too Molly (I think I will just kidnap Chele and ply her with goodies to do the job for me) :-)

Well Lousia, That might be out of the question....since we are going to talk her into moving to GA so we can all borrow her tiller lol....then maybe we can all come help you with your's lol

Do I feel my ears burning??? Thought for a minute someone might have been talking about me. LOL Now, let's see...I have been to Georgia and I know it is beautiful and much warmer there. Someone find me a home halfway between Molly and tiG and I might be tempted. :) But, Lou is over in Va, which is the same zone and may be that I would like it just as well as Georgia. And with Parda in the mix...darn! How would I decide?! Hmmm, I better sweeten the deal and maybe you all can bid on me. I also come with five little helpers, a chipper shredder, pole saw, a full garage of tools-compound mitre saw, table saw, jig saw, reciprocating saw and hand tools galore! Any takers? :)

Mee Meee Meeeee!!!! Maybe if I talk to my neighbor real ugly like they'd move out LOL Then you could move right on in! We'd have a blast!! And I do know how to get to tiG's house too...and I have a truck, so we could just load up the tiller and tools and go on over to her house. LOL

actually, my mother is going to be selling her land this year and she lives right next to me. bad thing is it's 20 acres of trees and swamp land. shucks. But if you did live between me and Molly, it wouldn't be a drive to either place, we live about 30-40 minutes apart. in the south! where it's warm today and we've been outside working all day!!!

O girl you got that right! What a beautiful day its been here in Ga!! Soo warm, just perfect fot yard work!! Now where is Badseed with that tiller, I am just about ready for it now. I have the bed all cleared out and ready to til!

Hey - I live about half way between them, and there is a house for sale just down the street!! So come on down!!!

Hmmm....about 6 hours to tiG's from here and about 6 or 7 to Cincy. Looks like I'm half way...COME ON DOWN!!!!!!!!!!

oh Chele, you would LOVE Azalea's neighborhood, it's beautiful!

Chele, you promised that you would move to Idaho with me!!! I still have that extra building permit and there is land to be gotten for not too much money. And I have two pickups, two trailers for hauling things, critters galore for the kids, a shop full of tools, a recycle center down the road that makes me really good deals on such neat garbage, AND I will babysit for you too!

LOL You could always move to my neighborhood...Housing prices are skyrocketing, the job market is in a permanent slump, 75 degrees is HOT in the summer and the trees in the forests are only there because of the summer fogs and winter rains that flood the rivers frequently...but you would be close to ME!

Your Tiller would need to be tough since the ground is rocky but the chipper would be right handy when the wind storms knock down the trees.

Molly did you move it yet. I moved a small one that came up between two larger ones last year and moved it to my DIL house. Then we had a wind storm earlier this year and it half way uprooted one of the larger ones. I decided I wanted to move it and it had a root system like you wouldn't believe. It took me forever to get that thing up. It had been there about 10 years.

Yea Jim I moved it and the root system on it was hugh! I never expected it to be that big! I did manage to get it out though. I replanted it over into a new bed, and so far so good. I'm pretty sure it will do ok, so far there is not even any wilted leaves! yeaahhhh! I'm thinking about moving my other one too, because it is much bigger than I thought it would be and I don't want to cut it back. Only problem is it is the same color as the other one and I'd be planting it on the same side of the yard as the other one too. (Actually I am in the process of making me a jungle out there) But if I am going to move it I better get busy huh?!

Ponditis~~ The whole purpose of Michele moving is because she has tons of tools, and a tiller and etc....which I don't have. So since you have all the same stuff as she has....maybe both of you need to move down here closer to me!! one of you can move close to me and the other one can move closer to tiG, that way we can all meet in the middle and have a high ole time!

Zany~~ you can just move here too, from the way it sounds you have rock hard grounds and too many high winds! come on, you can move here too. lol

LMBO! I forgot about this thread. All these options! How can I decide?? LOL