Gardening question

PurpleDragon · Fri Jul 28, 2006 8:31 am

Stupid question of the day.

I have a flower garden that is about 5 metres by about 120 metres. It is on a hill, which is why I think the previous owner decided that planting anything anywhere was a good idea - probably thought it didn't matter if the small flowers were at the back and the tall at the front, because of the slope.

ANYway.

There is a section for herbs, and then the rest is devoted to flowers, but they are all over the place. Lavender, lupins, pansies, roses, lilies, some green bushes I haven't identified yet but really like, euphorbia, small flowering ground cover. The list is endless and it is all just shoved in.

Now, I want to rip it all out, and start again. BUT I want to keep the majority of the plants - just move them around so they are better placed and I can actually see what I've got. It's like a real hodge-podge right now and it is a shame.

Should I wait till autumn? Should I pull up when it is still flowering so they can establish roots for our (harsh, cold, windy, snowy) winter? I so don't want to rip it all up and then find I've killed the lot of them!

chadspad · Post: # 28003Post **chadspad** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 8:59 am

Hiya,
I have always been led to believe that u shouldnt move anything that is flowering, so probably autumn is the best bet. I would prune them all back and then move them.

Luath · Post: # 28005Post **Luath** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:02 am

Definitely agree with the above - do it when cool as well. Have the planting hole/s ready, and keep well-watered until established.

Millymollymandy · Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:45 am

Do you really have a flower bed that is 120m long?

You must have a hell of a lot of plants in it!!

I agree, Autumn is the best time to move plants.

Shirley · Post: # 28092Post **Shirley** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:50 pm

I'd definitely wait until they've finished flowering etc... you might even be able to take some cuttings meantime as insurance just incase the move doesn't work.

Tigerhair · Post: # 28106Post **Tigerhair** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 8:31 pm

Nah, rubbish... he he he... Shrubs and trees need to wait to be moved until they are dormant (unless they are evergreen). However, you can uproot flowers, pot them up, keep them moist and LABEL them. On the label it's useful to put the colour, height... etc.

Take shrub cuttings and most things should survive this way. You probably won't get them all done in a day, anyway, so spread it out over a few weeks. Good luck

Shirley · Post: # 28108Post **Shirley** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:14 pm

LOL Tigz.. you like to live dangerously!!

I guess that's only what happens when we buy plants from garden centres though.

PurpleDragon · Sun Jul 30, 2006 9:47 pm

Oh, my goodness - that is so funny! I typo'd there - I meant 20 metres not 120! Good grief - I'd be weeding for the rest of my life!

So basically the concensus is to leave them till a bit later. I can't put them in the holes I want to plant them back in, because I will have to pretty much lift the lot and then replant them in different places, but my soil is so rubbish that I will need to feed it, or put topsoil down or something before I replant.

Thanks for the advice, everyone