When to move plants?

Around these parts (northern Ohio), this would be a good time to move them, especially before they start to get too much foliage on them. The other great time for moving these things is late autumn. I usually find that by that time of year I've pretty well had my fill of gardening and procrastinate those moves until spring.

Thanks, Ina. I'm having a Quiet Day on Saturday and (weather permitting) plan to move the plants. They're growing fast, and as you point out, it's best to move them before they get too much foliage. I've moved plants at all times of the summer and fall, but can't recall moving many in April. I guess that's because half the time I'm still guessing at what the heck they ARE!
The ones I'm moving are sedum (Autumn Joy), and they seem like tough little buggers, so I'm sure they'll be okay.

The Autumn Joys can stand just about anything you put them through. You're right. They're tough little buggers.

Oh! Speaking of sedum... I have one on the south side that is IMMENSE. It starts falling away from the center and looks kind of sad and messy by mid-summer. Should I put a wire cage around it? Do your sedum need support?

A cage wouldn't hurt. The sedum in my new house, HERE, don't need cages, yet. They haven't been fully exposed to my green thumb. I'm sure they will in a few years. At my old house, they were ready to be caged when I moved out. Thank God my daughter is in that house now and can cage the rascals for me.

Ina you the man! if faced with a emergency, 'youbetyourgarden' at pbs is where i always go

I learned my lesson a few years back don't water on them directly, cause they lay down. The CP (chief procuror) had told me I'm crazy to water sedum at all, since it's a plant that likes tough arid conditions. When I've "dented" them I've put a panty hose around them and drawn them together.

They'll stand up, but never quite the same.

Moving sedum is possible any time of year once its established you probably can't kill it.

When to move your perennials depends on what they are. Those that bloom in the summer and fall usually transplant the best in the spring when the soil is still cool enough that they aren't growing rapidly. Spring bloomers transplant best in late summer after the foliage has ripened and the plant is either resting or completely dormant.

If your sedum is beginning to fall over from the middle, it's time to divide it. The floppy center stems is a sign of overcrowding which, if left alone, will eventually lead to either the center dying out or the plant not flowering. Now is a good time to do it because the cooler temperatures and spring rains will help the plant re-establish very quickly and you're likely to still get flowers in the fall. If you like the looks of a very large plant, you can create that illusion by planting 3 or 5 divisions just close enough together so that the mature foliage will mingle. Sedum likes to be left alone for a few years between dividings so try to leave plenty of space between individual clumps.

Thanks for the advice, Andy and Peter! I'll definitely divide my monster sedum this weekend -- and won't water it so much this summer!

:)