Moving perennials

Surely winter is the perfect time, when they are dormant, to minimise root disturbance?

In fact any plant - evergreens, deciduous shrubs etc - (but not winter flowerers) are best moved now, aren't they?

The textbooks say wait till spring (or autumn). I say, I want to get stuck in now and shift plants if I'm not happy with their position!

What say the wise folk of GC?

 

Andrew, normally winter is the perfect time for moving things, but, because the ground is so wet you are better off leaving them be.

 

As most of British gardens are clay based, I will stick with my advice.

 

Not intentionally, no.

 

Don't worry, I'm not going to prise them out of the ground with a JCB if it's frozen or waterlogged!.

I'm on a sort of chalky building rubble, so good drainage.

 

So why do we think the conventional wisdom is to leave plants alone till spring at least?

Too chilly to get yer boots on or what!?

 

The idea of leaving it til spring generally relates to the soil temperature. Most advise to move plants when the soil is warming up. For me I'm with Armandii and since I also garden on sand it is relatively easy to move anytime unless frosty.

 

There is a reason for moving in spring when perennials are starting into growth. It is - that when you lift plants you damage their roots to some degree. This allows harmful bacteria to enter the plant, which could do it some harm. In spring the damage is soon repaired if the plant is in growth, but in winter the damage may not be repaired so quickly.

However many plants are so robust that they can be moved or divided in winter inspite of this. But I suspect that some may be a bit more fussy and are better at being moved at the optimum time, which might be spring or even the autumn.

 

I agree that so much depends on the site, orientation and soil.
Where i live now means i can (and do) move any perennial at any time of year and to a large extent shrubs too.

 

Thanks Peter.

It makes perfect sense really. If plants are concentrating on root growth, they can fix root damage better.

I think I'm just eager to get on with some 'proper' gardening and trying to justify my impatience.

 

Well, I've had a little dig. The soil is surprisingly warm after the first inch or so. Not too wet either.

Are we sure it is winter?

I'm south-facing in the south on well-drained rubble, so that might help. I'm gonna get cracking!

 

Well, it looks as if the house move will be March the first, so I have to think about moving one of my favourites..........
The one that I absolutely want to take is my small clump of Hermodactylus........

................which flowers in March (hopefully earlier if this mild spell continues) and HATES disturbance. :gaagh:

I'm livid with myself, as last autumn when my offer was accepted I dug up all my choice bulbs and stored or potted them up, but I forgot this one. :DOH:

Any one moved Gaura lindheimeri, as I have two strong and hardy plants that I would like to take too.