Grab a spade, get digging and move your trees and shrubs
THIS is the optimum time for planting or moving trees and shrubs. Most species can be lifted at any time between october and March.
But when they are transplanted in late autumn, they’re just dormant with still enough root activity for them to settle into a new home before temperatures drop.
Prepare the new spot before digging up the plant and keep root disturbance to a minimum.
When transplanting large or vigorous shrubs, prune about a third of the growth after planting. Take out aged, damaged or weak stems. This will stimulate spring growth.
Small shrubs such as slow-growing rhododendrons are unlikely to need pruning, but snip out any dead wood.
Almost all hardy perennials benefit from being lifted and divided every few years. it seems brutal, but this will help them flower more freely and grow more vigorously.
This applies particularly to plants in broad clumps or those which have creeping roots, such as spring doronicums, summer phloxes and heleniums, Michaelmas daisies, tall sedums and many more.
Plants with long tap roots may resent being moved and are best propagated by root cuttings. They include Anchusas, Baptisia and perennial eryngiums.
Mature, mixed perennial borders could benefit from a major overhaul. That means digging everything out, splitting the plants and discarding aged or unhealthy ones.
At this time of year, you can take your time. The lifted plants will be dormant and can be left out of the ground for several hours. That allows time for removing weeds, composting and arranging your plants.