Hi Smd,

Perennials can be planted/moved anytime the ground isn't frozen or too wet to work in it without hopelessly compacting the soil!

Mid-summer is probably the worst time (for both the plants and the humans!), especially at high altitude, because of the heat.

Mid-winter is probably the "next worst" because of the obvious weather conditions--but I just planted something I had gotten at the Fall Swap that I still had sitting around here in a pot a little over a week ago! I've been planting other things I bought on sale really late in fall over the last few months too, weather and soil conditions permitting. Last winter I was planting new bulbs all winter, I think I finally got done in January--or it might have been February!

Spring and fall are both good for planting, but for most people spring is better because you can see very quickly if the plants are growing well or if any problems develop. Fall is good because you can often find good sale deals, and the new plants have all winter to develop a good root system--anytime the soil isn't frozen, which is pretty often out here--so they're raring to go in spring, but when you plant in fall you do need to wait all winter to see for sure if they're ok!

In my opinion this is a GREAT time to be digging existing perennials to divide and/or move them. Wait till the soil is dry enough to work in it without "creating concrete," and go for it. If you're in the market for more, you probably won't be able to buy new ones locally until sometime in April, depending on the weather. I don't know when mail order places start shipping--I like to play up-close-and-personal with perennials before I buy them so I don't do mail order--but I'd be surprised if they'd start shipping much before April either. You might want to keep an eye out for the Spring Swap thread where you could probably pick up a few FREE ones, tho the Spring Swap usually tends to be more veggie starts than perennials--but if I'm able to make it this year there will be at least some perennials there!

When you do decide to move/plant them, be sure you water them in well when you're done, even if the soil seems "wet enough." Besides "watering" them, the water helps to "settle the roots in to their new home." Then don't water again till the soil a few inches down is obviously drying. Because they won't be actively growing for a little while yet they won't be using much water at all, and with as cold as it still gets over nite, the soil won't be drying much from the "heat."

With the warm weather we're expecting for the next week this should be a really good time to get some stuff done--as long as your soil has dried enough to be workable.

Since you're in Niwot, I have a question! How did you make out in The Floods up there last fall? Did you survive "intact?"

Happy planting,
Skybird

Skybird,
Thanks for the advise! I have a few things I need to move and plant, but It needs to stop snowing and the ground to dry up a little more!
We live on a hill so thankfully we were unscathed in the floods. Because the ground was so waterlogged, got some moisture in the basement . We were very fortunate!!
I've been reading posts from RMG for several years. Hope to be able to join folks at the plant swap and put names to faces!
Thanks!! Suzanne
Suzanne