My mixed border is an unruly mish-mash, so I want to dig in some decent
compost, rearrange the perennials, plant a load of spring bulbs, sow a few
hardy annuals, and generally "start again" with a decent layout.

If I tackle the job in spring, I can't plant any bulbs this year (there's no
space for them until I dig up and reorganise the perennials). However, I
still have several autumn plants in bloom so I can't dig up everything right
now.

What I want to do is dig up some perennials now before they vanish (hosta,
monarda, etc) and keep them in pots for a month until the autumn plants are
finished, tidy up some of the border now, then in November dig up everything
else, replant the perennials and get the bulbs in, and then it's all ready
for next year.

But, what is best?
(1) Dig up now, keep in pots for a month and replant in November?
(2) Leave in the ground until November, then dig up (if I can find them) and
replant in November?
(3) Dig up now, leave in pots for all winter and replant in the spring?
(4) Leave everything as is, and tackle it all in spring (and forego planting
bulbs this year)?

Advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Gilly wrote:
If I tackle the job in spring, I can't plant any bulbs this year
(there's no space for them until I dig up and reorganise the
perennials). However, I still have several autumn plants in bloom so
I can't dig up everything right now.


you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs!

Bite the bullet! Dig everything out now. Prepare the ground and replant asap
Things still in growth/flower, heel
in somewhere.

If you compromise the end result will be unsatisfactory

pk

We have just had the same problem in our new (to us) garden, full of weedy
herbaceous borders. I would cut them all back, dig them up, divide if nec.
etc. weed and improve the soil then replant. My reasons are that (a) with a
bit of luck (depending on where you live) they then may have a chance to
start to grow a bit and settle in before winter which will decrease the
chances of losing any (b) again with some luck you may find that any
weeds/weed seeds left in the soil start to grow and so can be spotted and
dealt with now rather than later and (c) it will be a lot more pleasant
doing it now than in November. I don't think that it is worth trying to hang
onto a few flowers for a few weeks and then risking messing up quite such a
major job as this. I would also cut them back before moving as this seems to
increase their chances of survival.

--
Hayley
(gardening on well drained, alkaline clay in Somerset)

"Gilly" wrote
My mixed border is an unruly mish-mash, so I want to dig in some decent
compost, rearrange the perennials, plant a load of spring bulbs, sow a few

Thanks to all who replied. The overwhelming consensus is that I should dig
out everything right now, which I will do but, typically, it's raining today
and my wellies are in the shed and are probably full of spiders (or mice)!!

Thanks again.