Spring is the best time for transplanting or dividing most plants but there are some that should be transplanted later in the growing season.
Irises are transplanted or divided as soon as they finish flowering. Cut the flower stems off and cut the leaves back to 4-6 inches with a scissors, leaving a fan of leaves. Lift the rhizomes (the roots) out of the ground and cut off any diseased or rotten areas. Replant the rhizomes so that the top half of each rhizome is above the soil line. Irises look nice planted in circles of 6-10 plants with the rhizomes toward the center like spokes on a wheel.
Peonies are best transplanted in late summer. Lift the plants and you’ll see thick, fleshy roots with new, pink, pointed shoots or eyes. Cut each root into sections with 4-5 eyes each. Dig a hole 8-10 inches deep and plant with the shoots no more than two inches below the soil surface. Water well and check to make sure that the roots haven’t sunk too deeply into the loose soil. If they have, lift them up and reset them at the correct depth. Planting too deeply is the most common reason peonies fail to bloom.
Tulips, daffodils and other spring flowering bulbs should be transplanted in mid-October just about the time when you’d be planting newly purchased bulbs. Of course in October you’ll have no idea where your underground bulbs are located since the foliage has long since died back. If you are intent upon transplanting spring bulbs in fall, make sure to place a marker in the soil of your flowerbed before removing the dead foliage in summer so that you’ll know where to dig when it’s time to transplant.
September is a good time to transplant trees and woody shrubs. In autumn, they are entering a period of dormancy so their energy is going into their roots rather than being expended on producing new foliage and above-ground growth. So along with the shock of being transplanted, they have to deal with only one other task, rather than two.
The same is true of most perennial flowers. Move them in early September so they have to chance to get established in their new location before the ground freezes. After transplanting, mulch trees, shrubs and flowers with shredded leaves, ground bark or straw to retain moisture and moderate soil temperatures.
What if you absolutely must move your hostas or your bee balm in mid-summer? It can be done, but try to dig as large soil ball as you can around the roots so they are disturbed as little as possible. After replanting, water daily. If the new location is sunny or windy, rig up something to provide shade and wind protection for a couple weeks until the plant is established. With extra care, any plant can be moved at any time during the growing season.
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