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tardy summertime and other fall is the meter to plant , divide , and transplant many different perennials , shrub , and Tree including spring flowering perennials . Peonies are a good object lesson of a plant that choose to be transplanted in autumn if it must materialize at all .

For more idea , also see25 Flower Seeds to Sow in Fallfrom theEmpress of Dirt Fall Garden Checklist .

Perennials that can be divided in fall including peonies.

Pink bleeding heart flowers

The Right Time To Divide & Move Plants

If you have a garden , you know most plant can be impress at any time , without calamity — if we follow through with proper care — but there is preferred timing base on blooming cycles .

Here ’s the canonic principle :

The master goal is to leave plants alone while they are flower and fruiting , and docket motility or root divisions during their off - season .

Bleeding hearts are a plant you can divide and transplant in fall.

Pink bleeding heart flowers

Should you move flora at other time , the Garden Police will plausibly just let you off with a word of advice , so do n’t revere a costly ticket . These pourboire are just to give your efforts an supererogatory advantage .

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Get the Free PrintableThere ’s a free printable with this article . Go toResources(below ) to get yours .

Here ’s some reasons to shift plant life around in your garden .

These are spring and early summertime bloomers that can be separate and moved in drop .

It is also possibleto plant and transfer some trees and shrubs in the fallbut you do have to allow enough time for the roots to get established .

The large the plant , the longer it takes .

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With all transplantation , good lacrimation ( not too much , not too picayune ) is all important during this time as dry soil is the number one causa of transplant failure .

Related : How to Move Garden Plants From One Home to Another

Tips for Successful Dividing or Transplanting

The optimal time for fall transplanting is 4 - 6 calendar week before first frost , which corresponds with the time when tree leaves start to drop . Roots will take longer to establish in cadaver grunge than loam or Baroness Dudevant so reserve for that as well .

First freeze date deviate from twelvemonth to year but a Google search for the information will give you a general idea .

A straightaway Google search for ‘ first frost date in YOUR AREA ’ will tell you the average date .

Pink bleeding heart flowers.

But do check your plant tags for specific instructions .

Prepare The New Location First

Think about light ( Dominicus , tad , or part shade ) , soil conditions ( pH , moisture , typography ) , expected size at maturity ( width , tiptop , scale , root depth and width ) , weather exposure .

Related : Full Sun To Shade : How To measure Light Conditions In Your Garden

Mind Your Roots

It ’s all about the origin . The reason we hold off until blooms have come and exit to move plant is to reduce shock to the plant life and move it at a prison term when it can put its energy into source development .

Prune or Deadhead As Needed

It depends on the plant specie , but , in general , I cut them down to about 6 - 8 inches tall .

This unloosen up the roots to mould on tone up themselves rather than servicing the upper foliage .

Related : Garden Tool Guide : How to pick out the Right Pruners & Loppers

Pink lily.

Dig Thoroughly

A good transplanting spade make up the job much easier .   I have a Fiskarstransplanting spadeand it ’s excellent ( see it here on Amazon ) .

Not quick to transplant ?

If you ’ve got a soil ball , put it in a container and water it . If you ’ve got bare roots , deluge in warm water and flora asap .

Purple and yellow iris flowers.

Familiar Soil is Good Soil

There is interesting newfangled research about plant root and how they ( basically ) signified and communicate within soil ( fungus kingdom is also convoluted ) .

If your plants were happy in their live soil , take it along .

Allow Extra Room

Dig up the root ball and keep it inviolate as much as possible . labour the new kettle of fish just a petty bigger and transplant . soft !

Remove Air Pockets

Always lightly compact the soil around the roots after planting to squeeze out any air pocket that have work .

Take Care

Tend to your babies ! The next few weeks or months are vital for healthy beginning development and development .

keep even moisture without over — or underwatering . The finger test works great : push your finger 3 - inches into the soil . Dry?Water . Damp?Wait .   An inexpensivemoisture meterworks nicely too .

total a   2″ level of mulch around the substructure of plant life , careful to keep the industrial plant stem mulch - free to earmark air flow . I use pin farewell as mulch , which I first crunch up with the grass wacker .

White astilbe.

Related : How To utilise Fall Leaves To Improve Your Garden

hold back until spring .   Fall is the clip for dormancy and you do not desire to encourage new growth just yet .

Okay . Time to move some plants !

White peony flower.

Resources

EmpressofDirt

FREETIPSHEET

Fall Garden Checklist

File provide a handy checklist sorted by priority and in effect timing .

~Melissathe Empress of Dirt ♛

Purple Veronica flowers.

Empress of Dirt in flower garden with moving van

Garden bed with sun charts showing full sun, part sun, and shade.

Assortment of garden tools.

Dry leaves in the fall garden.

Fall Garden Checklist

Bleeding hearts are a plant you can divide and transplant in fall.