Sick of my Garden! Can I move stuff around before fall?

I stare at my garden, and it seems like it's all messed up, tall flowers in front, shorter, stuff in the middle. I've been a little leary about moving stuff now, in August. I live in Rhode Island, so we don't get frost until November or so, but I have never really been up on when you can and when you can't move things with out killing them! Mostly Hosta, Beebalm, cone flowers, black eyed susans, small yellow bushy flowers that I forget the name of. I also have a new Rose of Sharon that sprouted off the mother plant, and is flowering, but shadowed and I would love to move that too, into a more sunny, prominent area. Any advice?


thank you!

Sick of my Garden! Can I move stuff around before fall?
I have been gardening for many years. I just started removing my garden and saw your question. The rule for pruning, dividing perennials is two fold answer. One divide when it is finished flowering. Two divide when it is dormant before it flowers. You get frost late so flowers are still blooming. I would plan what flowers when and what is short to tall. Unless you have a large flower bed try and plant tall in background or bulbs in the back so perennials cover them for the summer.


Time also to add compost to tired soil for roots and shoots. good luck, start reading garden mags.
Reply:hostas- I started with one plant and ended up with about 15 of them by splitting and transplanting.


as long as you are careful to keep the root system attached, you can move as little as one leaf and have a whole new plant the next spring.


from my experience, it is a little trickier with trees or small bushes. they don't like to be moved.


You need to be careful not to disturb or damage any of the root system.


when you first move things, they will look droopy but just water them frequently until they get their footing in the new spot. most of your flowers sound like hardy varieties that should do fine.
Reply:i don't recomened it. youu would be cutting it close. to transplant just before fall the roots wouldn't be strong enough for the upcoming winter.
Reply:You really need to wait until frost because that is when they become dormant. I know it can be difficult because most of these dye back to the ground, but one thing you can do is stake and label your plants while noting their height and width. By doing this you can dig them up and place them back in the ground in a way that works better for you. You can make out a diagram or create a garden plan now so that you know exactly how you want your garden to work.


Anyhow, I hope this helps a little.


Good Luck