moving, what’s the best way to dig up perennials to take with?
Posted on Jul 09, 2009 under Best Perennials | 8 Commentswe are moving in july and i want to take alot of the plants with me. i live in iowa and it’s going to start getting hot. if it’s going to harm them i can wait until fall because i know the person buying our place. any thoughts will be appreciated. thanks.
If you really must dig them up, i.e. are they "heirlooms?", do it in the cool of the early morning. Dig out as far as the circumference of the plant is with a sharp shovel and lift out as much of the root ball as you can. You can either put the rootball in a plastic trashbag and attempt to keep moist and out of the sun, or temp plant in pots.
To lessen the stress and shock on the plants, keep moist, not wet, keep out of direct sunlight.
If you have sold your home the new buyer may have something to say with 1/2 the plants gone in the yard!
If your plants have started setting seed pods, you could take some of those with you rather than the entire plant.
Gardening Tips : Best Conditions for Growing Perennial Flowers
July 9th, 2009 at 7:29 am
Be nice and leave the plants where they are. Chances are they won’t survive the transplant anyway. You can always get new ones for you new home.
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July 9th, 2009 at 7:43 am
I got a bunch of big cheap pots and dug them out at the end of june… kept them well watered and in the shade, until I was ready to plant at the new place, in August…it is hot here too in the summer….
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July 9th, 2009 at 7:58 am
yep I would transplant them all to pots and water them frequently and keep them moist untill the big move and they should be okay .
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July 9th, 2009 at 8:42 am
I moved to the next suburb over, and I moved half of my plants before I had a buyer for my house. I took the shovel and cut right down the middle of the plants. I kept the dirt ball and wrapped it in a bag with a bit of water. It takes a year or two to flower again though.
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July 9th, 2009 at 9:10 am
I’d transplant them sooner than later. If you wait until the fall (especially in Iowa), they won’t have enough time to take root before it gets too cold. Do it now by digging around the circumference of the plant and put them in pots. Water them once they’re in pots and transplant them as soon as you can.
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In Iowa, it’s starting to get hot? Wheww! In N.C. it has hit 100 degrees. Wish I were in Iowa!
July 9th, 2009 at 9:36 am
Get a bunch of 5 gallon pails, dig up as much of the dirt around & under them as you can, and plant them as soon as possible.
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July 9th, 2009 at 10:23 am
If you really must dig them up, i.e. are they "heirlooms?", do it in the cool of the early morning. Dig out as far as the circumference of the plant is with a sharp shovel and lift out as much of the root ball as you can. You can either put the rootball in a plastic trashbag and attempt to keep moist and out of the sun, or temp plant in pots.
To lessen the stress and shock on the plants, keep moist, not wet, keep out of direct sunlight.
If you have sold your home the new buyer may have something to say with 1/2 the plants gone in the yard!
If your plants have started setting seed pods, you could take some of those with you rather than the entire plant.
References :
July 9th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Normally you dig and divide the fall flowering plants in the spring and the spring flowering plants in the fall……..phew! I agree with the others, get the plants into pots now and keep them well watered and probably in partial shade.
At least we know the iris will be fine, they need to be divided in mid summer anyway.
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