Your perennials have grown and matured. Now some plants are not in the right place, while others are getting too large for their space. It’s time to move some plants, maybe discard some and divide others.
You may wish to move plants because they are too tall or too short for their location, or because trees have grown and a previously sunny spot is now shady, or trees have been removed and your shade-loving plants are burning in the sun. Or you may want to try a different location for a plant that is not thriving.
Whatever the reason, it is time to dig it up and move it.
The best time to move or divide plants is in the spring or in the fall. That is the ideal, but not always practical.
If you need to move a plant during summer, choose a cool, cloudy day, and move it late in the day to give it a chance to recover overnight before it has to deal with hot sun or drying winds.
Use a sharp shovel to remove the plant with as much of the root system as possible. If you wish to divide it, now is the time to do that.
Prepare the new site by digging the right width and depth of hole and filling it with water.
Once the water has been absorbed, place the root ball into the hole so that the plant is at the same level in the ground that it was before.
You may want to sprinkle some bone meal in the hole at this time. Firm the soil around the plant and water again.
Think twice before moving a peony if it is blooming and doing well. Peonies do not like to be moved and may not bloom again for a couple of years.
If it needs to be moved, take care when you move it that it is not replanted too deep. Peonies should have their top roots no deeper than a couple of inches below the surface of the soil. Bearded iris should also be planted near the surface of the soil.
When dividing plants, you can cut a large plant into several smaller sections with a sharp shovel or a sturdy knife. Each piece can then be planted as described. Many perennials grow outward from the centre, forming a green ring with a dead centre.
These can be dug up and divided, discarding the dead central mass. You can also use a sharp shovel to remove part of the clump, leaving the desired amount in the ground. Fill the hole with fresh soil and divide the removed portion if desired. Use your divisions in your garden, or pass them along to other gardeners.
The next article will discuss preparing your bed for winter.
