Hello. I have several large clumps of hellebores which are now towering over smaller plants at base of a rockery. Is this a good time to move these plants which are very healthy and still in flower and are there any right and wrongs ways of doing this. Thankyou
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It's not too late to move herbaceous perennials especially with all the rain we've been having. Just dig them up with as much root-ball as possible and you may need to reduce the foliage to lessen the stress to the plant.
Thankyou wintersong. I did wonder whether to reduce the foliage myself to make it easier. Ok will get on and do this.
Best time to move them is in early autumn, when they are putting on a spurt of root growth while not doing anything above ground. If you move them now the roots won't be anything like as active and with summer coming it's not such a good time for getting a quick foothold. But, if you have to, move them now. They will be ok, but won't be as vigorous next spring, and may flower less.
I will risk it gold1locks as they are just too large for this area. Thankyou
You can reduce stress by removing the flowers so they don't try and put energy into seeds. Make sure you give them a good new home with plenty of garden compost or leaf mould and some chicken pellets worked into the soil and keep them watered over their first summer in the new place.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
Thanks Obelisk. I have already done this yesterday afternoon including the chicken pellets so great minds think alike. keeping them watered isnt a problem at moment!!