September, moving or dividing, after heavy rains?

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I filled a new sloping bed with dormant sale hostas over the last 3 years. Some have done well, some have limped along; with the result that I’d like to tweak the layout. The really outstanding ones will go to a prime viewing bed. Some I think were mismarked and have proven to be too short for where they are, as well (Brim Cup vs. Wide Brim, for example)

I will have more time than usual this fall, starting in 2 weeks. I want to do some rearranging, plus a little division of some larger cultivars to add to a different bed.

I also have some minis, new plus divisions I potted up, that have yet to get into the ground. Those I would tackle right away, the moving around of in-ground ones would come later.

We have had torrential rain, though. 5 inches just yesterday. On top of several inches in the days before. Under such conditions, is it a GOOD time to move, or a bad time? I am wondering if the ground will be too waterlogged.

If it’s an especially good or bad time to move or plant, I’ll make a note of it. Thanks!

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Comments (5)

Dianne(Zone 3b)
8 years ago
The wet is good. I think it's good if you are going to take the whole root ball with the soil. I can move them anytime without trouble. If I am going to clean off the roots to divide, I like to do that more in the spring when they have more time to take root in the soil. Now that's just me. Other may do things differently. Where you live makes a difference.
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago) thanked Dianne(Zone 3b)
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
as far as i am concerned.. your only issue is winter heave ...

if you move biggish clumps ... with a gob of soil.. and they wont move .. go for it ..

if you were dividing into small plants.. that might heave out of the ground.. in late winter ... then you might have a problem ...

and that is part of the issue with mini's ...

and perhaps with new divisions.. presuming you bare root them at planting ...

as to the excess water ... imo.. the only issue.. is the weight of the gob of dirt you plan on moving ... water is heavy .. lift properly ...

ken
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago) thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
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linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
8 years ago
Do I WANT to bare root the mini divisions? I had not thought of that. I potted these over a month ago, since I did not have a good place for them at the time, without moving out other ones.
zkathy z7a NC
8 years ago
You’ll just have to deal with whatever comes out of the pot. What size pots?
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
8 years ago
They were divisions of minis that came originally in 2.5 liter pots. After I divided I potted into 1 L pots. Weather has been too hot to plant. I thought maybe they should have some TLC in the shade, anyway. One shows a new eye coming up from the side where it was cut.