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Can I dig it up

siananiganssiananigans Posts: 49
in Plants
I bought this plant last year... I can't remember what it's called for the life of me. We are soon to be selling our house so I'd like to dig it out of the border into a pot so I can take it with us, but I'm worried it won't survive.

Do you think it's possible, and how should I go about it, and would now be a good time before it grows much more this year? 

First photo is from last year so it can be identified, the other photo is it now as it's only just started to grow back for this year. 

Thanks



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Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 11,954
    :) It's an eryngium - as regards moving it, someone will be along shortly I'm sure
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,577
    eryngium, if you want to take it, dig it up now and pot it up. The sooner the better.
    Devon.
  • siananiganssiananigans Posts: 49
    Hostafan1 said:
    eryngium, if you want to take it, dig it up now and pot it up. The sooner the better.
    OK, will do... Now I'm pretty new to gardening, how do I know how much space to dig up around it? 
  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    They have really long roots so be prepared to dig down. 
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,577
    well... if you can remember the size of pot it was in, go about 50% bigger than that . Go in gently with a handfork and tease it back and up . If you lift too much, the soil will fall off back to the rootball. If you're stuggling to get the fork in, you're too close.
    Don't worry about it. you'll be fine.
    Devon.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,653
    Water it well first and give it a deep pot for that tap root.  Keep it sheltered and shaded while it recovers form the move.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 6,911
    And put a good dollop of grit in with the soil in the pot, rather than pure multi-purpose compost. They hate having wet feet and MPC gets a bit claggy for them
    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,653
    I'd go with John Innes no 3.  MPC is only fit for soil improvement.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    I would use a spade just outside the circumference of the leaves. It doesn't look too big a plant so would think the tap root wouldn't be much longer than a spade's depth or thereabouts. Take it carefully in any case. The bigger the clump you can dig out the better. 
    If you are going to have to buy a suitable pot for it, just remember that these plants are widely available and the expense of a new pot might outweigh the cost of a new plant in your new home! 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,151
    And if you don't want celandine in your new garden, try not to include those little plants that are all around it ... mind you, I like celandine  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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