Moving Plants or Perennials

When is the best time to move plants or perennials? Thanks, Denise

Now is good. Place them all securely into Priority Mail boxes. When they are all packed up email me for my address.

But seriously, I would like to move mine in early spring, just as they start to put up new growth. Depends a lot on what perennials you mean, daylilies and hostas are obliging at any time, iris are best moved right now. Some resent moving, like poppies and peonies (last one is better moved in fall).

Can you pot them up? Can you move them with a ball of soil?

fall when there is still enough warmth in the soil to allow roots to regrow or spring when the soil is warming up. Never when it is very cold or icey.

Thankyou, Pardancanda, I know I wasn't very clear, I meant from one part of my yard to another. I've purchased several different perennials and it seems the ones that say full sun part shade prefer more shade and as you know gardening is an investment and can be expensive so, I don't want to loose what I already have. I have 2 Astilbes that definitely don't want to be in the sun. I have opened up another side of my house to start another garden and have started that with the new family of hostas I received in the secret trade. This gardening is definitely addictive but I am so much enjoying it and Daves Garden as well with all its knowledge and help. The people are so helpful and kind. Thanks mark, do I have to wait until fall, the leaves are burning up? Denise

Denise, I often move perennials in the summer even though it's against common advice. What I do is water them thoroughly the evening before, along with the new spot. The next morning (early as possible) I re-water both areas then dig and transplant, trying to keep a root ball intact.

You could also dig and transplant in the evening when it's cool. I've seldom lost one and the watering thoroughly before seems to help the shock of transplant.

I do it similiar to Darius. Also, if I am moving to a sunny spot, I rig up a shade with four stakes and newspaper roof, leaving the sides open.

The general rule of thumb is that for perennials that bloom in the spring or early summer, divide or move them in fall. For mid-summer through fall bloomers, divide or move them in spring. That way each plant gets lots of time to re-establish before it uses most of its resources for blooming and setting seed.

But when they are in distress, move them as soon as possible! And keep them as moist as possible for the first few days if you do it in the heat of summer.

As more research is being done, fall turns out to be ideal for planting perennials in climates that aren't brutally cold in the winter. The warm soil and cool air really does a lot to help roots get established. Now to just get nurseries to have stock available then! And not stuff that has been left-over since the previous spring. A few in my area are doing better about this, but not many yet.

Good advice from everyone. I vote for moving them now! Astilbe do not like to dry out, not even once! I finally gave up and put them in pots of good soil, and keep watered as needed. Finally had some beautiful Astilbe chinensis pumila bloom. Just moved the pot into place where I wanted it!

Thankyou all, I will move now then and let you know how they turn out. Pardancanda, What made you decide to put back in a pot? Denise