Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Trifolium rubens

WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
in Plants
Morning,

I’m thinking of moving my Trifolium rubens Red Feathers as it’s a bit too big now for where it is. I cut it all down a couple of days ago as it had flowered for this year and was looking pretty tatty.

Would it be ok to move it now or should I wait until autumn (not sure if it will put much growth on up until then)?

 Thanks.
«1

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Difficult one this (for me anyway) .
    Normally l'd say wait until the Autumn because you don't want to be watering it, but the way things are going you could be doing that anyway. Who knows if we'll get "normal" Autumn and Winter weather ?
    They do tend to look very tatty at this time of year.
    I think if you're willing to take the risk, then move it now but keep an eye on the watering. Also be aware that the rioots might have spread further and be deeper than you expect.
  • WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
    Ok, thanks. It’s odd as I have three plants all in the same bed so receive the same conditions yet two always get powdery mildew this time of year and the other one doesn’t. 

    I think I’ll chance it as I’ll be purchasing some different plants to replace it this week. Does keeping an eye on watering mean not over doing it or under doing it? Sorry for a novice question. 

    Thanks. 
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Watering is always a very tricky subject  :)
    After you've moved it l would give it a watering can full (10 litres in my case). Don't use a hosepipe as it's notoriously tricky to gauge the amount. 
    Under normal circumstances l would water it in the same way once a week, even if you get some rain (unless it's torrential which seems unlikely).

    Obviously if we get another really hot spell then more often, maybe every couple of days. So much depends on your soil type, how well it drains etc etc.
    Hope this helps a bit.

  • WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
    edited July 2022
    That’s great, thanks. Our soil is pretty well drained - I wasn’t sure when I started gardening in 2020 so learnt the hard way by losing a couple of plants. 

    With regards to watering, am I doing the right thing by just watering around the base of the plants and not the whole bed? I’m not sure if I should water the empty spaces so that plants can spread. 
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I would stick to the watering around the roots. I know what you're thinking and l can see the logic behind it, but the usual advice is to water plants (ie around the roots) until they're "established",  that is, clearly growing strongly and looking happy. Then you only need to worry about them in long dry spells or extreme heat like we've just experienced. 

    It's a difficult thing to try and explain, but as you gain more experience and get to know the plants in your garden you start to gain an instinct for what works and what doesn't. You never stop learning. 
    I've been gardening for over 40 years and still muck things up, believe me !
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I wouldn't be moving anything in this weather,  it will have put it roots down to where the soil is damp,   it’s quite a deep rooted plant.  I’d wait until we at least get a good drenching of rain. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
    AnniD said:
    I would stick to the watering around the roots. I know what you're thinking and l can see the logic behind it, but the usual advice is to water plants (ie around the roots) until they're "established",  that is, clearly growing strongly and looking happy. Then you only need to worry about them in long dry spells or extreme heat like we've just experienced. 

    It's a difficult thing to try and explain, but as you gain more experience and get to know the plants in your garden you start to gain an instinct for what works and what doesn't. You never stop learning. 
    I've been gardening for over 40 years and still muck things up, believe me !
    Thanks. Thankfully, I’ve not lost anything during this recent hot/dry spell so maybe that means my watering and plant selection for our soil is working well.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Wildlifelover The only time I water soil at this time of yearis in one area where I grow snowdrops.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
    edited July 2022
    I gave the plant a really good soaking prior to digging it out earlier and it was rather deep-rooted but I got a decent sized clump out relatively easily. It’s been cut right back and was replanted straightaway and given a good watering in its new location. The weather doesn’t seem to be too hot for the next couple of weeks so I’ll keep an eye on the watering and any new signs of growth. Fingers crossed it will be as good as new next year.

    As a newcomer to gardening, I am amazed how some plants come back after been cut/dug out/split at the wrong time of year. On 26th June I dug out a relatively well established Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’, cut it all down, sawed it in half (as the crown was unbelievably thick), split it and transplanted it elsewhere. Today, it’s flowering with loads of leaf growth. Of course, I appreciate that not all plants may be as tough but it’s still amazing. 

    Hopefully the Trifolium will prove to be a tough cookie and show signs of life in a few weeks 🤞
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    All part of the fun of gardening @Wildlifelover. Fingers crossed for the trifolium  :)
Sign In or Register to comment.