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Moving plants

BeekeeperElaineBeekeeperElaine Posts: 6
in Problem solving
I have a fairly large garden which I look after by myself. The style of my garden is well-managed 'overgrown' as I like the look of fulsome abundance 😊, plus all the plants are mature. I do have a guy who comes to cut the grass once a week. As I'm getting older (62) im finding I have less energy and so I've been asking the grass guy to do more of the heavier jobs. This autumn I have proposed digging out and splitting some large agapanthus clumps. He has looked at this area and said that he would first need to dig out a beautiful established red phormium and an 8 foot high multi-stem sambucus nigra golden tower, so he can reach the agapanthus. Replanting these two again afterwards. I agree that the area is tight to work in but was horrified by what he wants to do to make his life a bit easier.

Am I being too fussy and sensitive? What are the chances of the phormium and sanbucus re-establishing without setbacks? 
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  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    My first question is, if you were doing it yourself, would you be able to reach the agapanthus without too much difficulty? 
    I don't know if he's ever dug out a phormium before, but if it's well established it will be a darn sight harder than he thinks it is.
    We (well mainly my OH 😊) dug one out years ago and a friend of his took it. It survived a long car journey and sitting in a wheelbarrow for a couple of weeks, but is still going strong. It took a mattock/pickaxe to get it out as well as a spade, and involved around 3 hours work, possibly more.

    Can't advise about the Sambucus l'm afraid. 
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    A photo or two would help to assess the intended work.  As @AnniD says, digging out that Phormium is going to take some time,  it’s bad enough getting them out of pots!  They are quite forgiving though and will just need extra watering for a while after the move.  The Sambucus may need reducing in size beforehand to aid recovery but they are quite tough and fast growing.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @BeekeeperElaine I have cut through the roots of Agapanthus to get them out of the ground. It can't be helped as they are thick and fleshy,hard work to split forks back to back is best. Before  replanting leave them to stand and dry for 24 hours. 
    This is a job for late spring just as they start to regrow assuming they are decidous. 

    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • BeekeeperElaineBeekeeperElaine Posts: 6
    Thanks for the replies. Annie you make a good point. It will be tight to get to the agapanthus but if I did the work myself I would do it slowly and try to protect the other plants. I'm trying not to sound mean and ungrateful about this guy, but he is NOT a gardener, he's one of the chainsaw and mattock clan! Each week he tells me of radical things he has done in other client's gardens and I'm left wondering how he is still working for them! The phormium is perhaps not as large as you are all imagining. It's a smaller variety about 3ft x 3ft, but it's beautiful and has been in place for years. (I am hopeless with tech and haven't a clue how to post photos).

    Plant minded - if anything has to be moved I suppose the phormium stands the best chance of surviving. I'm just very protective of the plants when this guy is around! 

    Suze — I'm not worried about the agapanthus. He dug up another area of aggies last autumn, I split them with a saw and replanted some of them and they are doing fine. 😉
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I’d trust your own judgement @BeekeeperElaine, I wouldn’t let someone like that near any of my plants!  That Phormium does sound like the easiest option though, it should give a good access route.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • BeekeeperElaineBeekeeperElaine Posts: 6
    Well I'm glad it's not just me being over sensitive! He's been doing the grass for years and I've never let him actually do anything with plants. It's only recently I've decided to stop doing such demanding work myself. I will mull over whether to let him try from another angle. When things have died back a bit in late autumn, it will look less congested. 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @BeekeeperElaine If you are not concerned about the Agapanthus then I see no reason why he can't just get in there and dig them out. The Phormium and the Sambucus just need to stay where they are. Is it possible he just doesn't want to do the job? Perhaps he finds cutting grass an easier way to make his money.
    It's not so easy to say no if you already work for someone.


    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I agree with @GardenerSuze. If you tell him you would rather he dug the agapanthus out as best he can without the palaver, see what his reaction is. 
    If you don't mind me saying so, l would trust your instincts. I have a feeling he might go in gung ho and maybe damage the phormium and/or the Sambucus, hopefully l'm wrong.
    I just can't imagine a gardener proposing such drastic action, although obviously l haven't seen a photo of the area so maybe it is feasible.

    If they are the deciduous type you could leave it until the Spring, and maybe in the meantime look into finding a "proper" gardener locally. 
    Handing over your precious garden to someone is a big deal  :)
  • BeekeeperElaineBeekeeperElaine Posts: 6
    I do wish I could find a proper decent gardener who understands plants and gardens. I'm having trouble giving up any jobs to someone else! I must be a control freak, but no one ever does things the way I really want then done. Still, I'm the boss and so  will insist it's done my way, as carefully as possible. (I'm not really as belligerent as I sound). 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @BeekeeperElaine I totally understand you being a control freak about your garden it is obviously a very special part of your life  I am the same!
    A friend employs a gardener he cuts grass but won't do the weeding. She complains about him but there are so many people out there who struggle to find someone just to cut the grass. I try to tell her  make him a cuppa, pay the going rate and make him welcome. So if your gardener does a good job of the grass, I would hang on to that. I have worked in gardens on the weeding and plant side. I rarely cut grass someone else was paid to do that job. 
    I realise it does come down to expense but that is a dilemma for so many of us.

    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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