Our lavender and rosemary didn't grow a whole lot the first year, but they've really taken off this spring. Two of the lavender bushes were planted too close and are crowding each other; I'd like to move one of them over. And I'd like to move one of the rosemary plants to the back of the bed and move the colored basils behind it up front where they can be seen.
Will these ladies take well to being moved around this time of year, or should I wait until fall?
Will lavender and rosemary take well to being moved?
Best time to move shrubs is in autumn or winter, when they aren't growing. However, if you can't wait that long, move them on a cool, cloudy, rainy day. Mix some fertiliser through the soil while planting them and water them in thoroughly when you're done.
One other thing to remember: by digging them up the rootball will become smaller. You'll have to compensate for that by pruning the "upper" part of the plant. This would mean that you won't get flowers this year!
I think I'll wait to move the lavender around; it's already in flower, and I don't want to interrupt it!
Neither rosemary bush has flowered yet. The rosemary bush I want to move is already stunted. Having no experience whatsoever, I decided to harvest one bush last November and leave the other alone. The one I left alone kept growing all winter and bushed out more this spring, though it still doesn't have any flowers. The one I cut back has just begun putting up a little new green. I think I'll chance moving it -- even if that sets it back, one rosemary bush puts out more than enough herb for use.
And I want my purple basil up front where I can see it!