August 29, 2005
Gratuitous Domestic Posting - Outdoor Division
I don't have anything original or intelligent to say about Hurricane Katrina. If you want that, go visit Michelle.
Here in Dee Cee, Saturday was a cool and rainy day, the first for a long time. I spent the morning pottering around in the garden, whacking back the deadheads and trying to figure out the Rubic's Cube-like moves that are going to be necessary in order to shift things around to a more harmonious arrangement. Two considerations in particular bother me: first, I am going to move both the buddleia and the Joe Pye weed. However, these bushes are all well over eight feet tall at the moment and transplanting them will be a major pain in the arse. Is it perhaps better to wait for spring, when everything has died and/or been cut back? Second, many of my flowers, including the columbine, foxglove, butterfly weed and blackberry lily, have been enthusiastic self-seeders this year. I'd like to take advantage of this and move some of the seedlings around. Again, though, I'm wondering whether it is better just to leave them be for the rest of this season and to move the ones that make it through the winter next spring.
Then again, am I just looking for excuses to put off what I know is going to be a serious amount of grunt-work?
Posted by Robert at August 29, 2005 08:43 AM | TrackBackRegarding the Buddlia; if you want to move the entire plant I think the best time is in early spring. Cut the thing back hard, 18"- 24" in eary spring and dig it up. Make sure you get a substantial root ball.
It is also my opinion that you should move the other perrenials in spring. It is so much easier, you don't have to baby them. Spring will do it for you. Some of the perenials might not bloom the first year (like hydrangias) but, I still think spring is the best time to move plants because you don't have to worry too much about water requirements.
You know to cut back hard in late winter just above an out facing node at an angle, yes?
Posted by: babs at August 29, 2005 12:27 PMOh, yes. I hammered that sucker hard last winter and it certainly paid off - in addition to being a beast, it's covered with blooms. There must have been two dozen tiger swallowtail butterflies hovering around it the other morning.
In fact, I lean more toward the spring thing the more I think about it.
Posted by: Robbo the LB at August 29, 2005 12:32 PM
