Transplanting Early Spring Flowers (Continued)

Transplanting Early Spring flowers in one’s garden is another way of getting something planted or moved to the right place. So, buy plants and transplant them or move plants from one place to another in the garden.

In Falls County, Texas, transplant early spring flowers like petunias, alyssum, and larkspur from mid-March to early April, once the danger of last frost passes. Transplant during early morning or cloudy days to reduce stress, ensuring roots are kept intact, and water deeply immediately after planting. A good rule is to divide and move perennials in Spring. At this time, the plants are actively growing but the summer heat has not begun.

Transplants, with their already existing root systems, should not grow to maturity in the pots in which they were bought. Transplant them into the garden or a larger pot.

Now is also a great time to move plants already growing in the garden. So, reorganize a flower bed or make a new bed. Transplanting now gives flowering plants a long season to grow and flourish.

Annual flowers are a snap to transplant. In the increasingly warm weather, annual petunias, impatiens, or marigolds are eager to grow out of the shop’s plastic four- or six-packs. They need the space to grow! Whether starting with plants from a shop or rearranging the garden, the basic steps of transplanting are as follows: 1) Take the plant from the pot. 2) Check the roots. If they completely cover the soil, gently tease them apart. If they are knotted and heavy at the bottom of the pot, loosen them thoroughly. 3) Place the root ball in a prepared hole. The plant should be level with the soil, a little higher if the soil is loose or sandy. 4) Pat firmly the soil around the plant with your hands. 5) Water well to encourage the plant’s roots to grow into the soil. The transplanted plant will settle and sit firmly in its new spot.

Mid-February is also a grand time to transplant perennial plants like daylilies. Best time? Early morning, late in the afternoon, or on a cloudy day. This allows the plans to settle out of direct sunlight. In transplanting daylilies, water the plants well. Their soil should be slightly moist, not soggy. Dig up the daylily, divide it, and take the division and place it in a prepared spot elsewhere in the garden or flower bed. Firm the soil around it and water it to help it settle. Spreading a 1-2 inch layer of compost or mulch around the plants helps preserve moisture in the soil and discourage weeds.

Transplant rose bushes just as other perennials. Spring is a great time, but roses can be transplanted as soon as the soil allows a hole to be dug. Before transplanting, water the soil around the rose bush with the gentle spray setting on the water nozzle. Again, the soil should be moist but not soggy. Begin digging for the roots. Using a garden spade, work out from the main stem of the plant. Moving the plant with its complete root ball is important. Having dug up the root ball, prepare a hole in the new spot. The new hole should be a little larger, but no deeper, than the plant’s root ball. Set the bush in the soil. The crown of the plant - where the stem and the roots meet - should be at soil level. Firm the soil and water it well. If the weather becomes hot, water every few days. Otherwise, water once a week throughout the growing season.