Moving potted plants into the garden now ?

I have been digging up part of my lawn to make an area for plants that need moving out of pots into the ground. It’s taking ages due to the rock/tiles/glass and general debris under the lawn but I’m hoping to be finished digging it over in about a week.
I will be adding old compost and manure plus bonemeal before planting … my question is should I plant this month or wait until spring ? The plants are verbena and rhododendron initially.

 

@glosmike November is not the month I would start planting. Plants stop growing over winter and the danger of ground frost is too high.
I recommend to keep the plants in a cool place but not exposed to the wintry weather. Depending where you live, you can plant them in Spring time when the danger of frost is over.
Verbena is not a plant that likes frost and snow. You would probably lose it if it's outside.

 

I wouldn't be worried about a rhodo being planted at this time of year, unless it's small and not accustomed to your conditions yet. If the site is good, and teh shrub is healthy, it would be fine.
The only time you wouldn't do it is if there's a prolonged spell of frost in the forecast. An above zero frost for a short period [like the one we had here the other day] won't really affect it, but the secret is to not water it until there's a suitable period of weather - ie not frost/ice, and even then, if the ground's wet it wouldn't really need it at all.
I often plant shrubs at this time of year and they only get watered when it rains. I don't water them in. That's where your soil and conditions matter though. I've just done some shrubs and tough perennials [geraniums etc] recently - not watered in. They're all fine.

Verbenas are better left until spring - I'm assuming you mean V. bon or hastata etc, and not the annuals?

 

As @fairygirl says a lot depends on your soil and local conditions. In normal circumstances September-October is ideal as the ground should be moist and still quite warm. The idea is that roots continue to grow and establish the plant. Here in the south it has been very mild so far, so you would probably have been fine, but it's forecast to get much colder everywhere next week. If you are very sheltered then OK but if not don't risk it.

 

Thanks for your replies folks.
On balance I think I will leave until spring.
yes fg it’s verbena bon. And a small rhododendron.
At least I’ll have plenty of time to get the planting area ready !

 

If it's small, then yes - better to be a bit cautious @glosmike . When you're completely confident about the conditions you have, and the climate etc, it's easier to take a chance with something, but with small plants, it's always safer to wait, and that prep will also pay off.
I have some small V. bons which I've been growing from cuttings taken from the main plants, and those will be tucked in for winter, rather than planted out, as we can easily lose the main plants here in more normal winter conditions, let alone young ones.