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Moving House in Winter
biofreak
Posts: 1,089
We may be moving end November beginning December. When should I lift Summer Flowering Asian Lilies and Kniphofias. Should I dry the bulbs of the lilies and replant in the Spring or as with kniphofias (I assume) pot them up to take with us? Re the Roses - Can I trim them down end October to soil level then lift and move them bare root or potted?. - Or am I wasting my time, bite the bullet and buy new stock?
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I'd leave everything as late as possible. If you lift the roses after leaf fall, there's no need to trim back" to soil level" Difficult without knowing their size, but cut back the top and trim the biggest thickest roots. It's the smaller, fibrous roots you want to encourage.
We brought over 150 pots with us when we moved ( December ). Some 6" pots, some half barrels and everything in between.
Just a thought - If you're selling the house (rather than moving from a rented property) you must inform the buyers that you will be removing plants from the garden, as legally they form part of the fixtures and fittings.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks for that but in France you take everything with you if you wish including the kitchen sink!!! All plants quoted are only 2yrs old, hence the reason I do not want to leave them. Should I pot on the roses or can I get away with moving them as bare root plants? Sorry to be ignorant but not very good with flowers, other than dahlias and spring bulbs.
Last edited: 16 September 2016 11:33:54
While you're all at it, what do I do with my gladioli and dahlias for winter?
BF - you can move your roses as bare roots as long as they are going to be re-planted straightaway. If you do that, keep the roots wrapped in damp paper to conserve moisture and soak them in a bucket overnight before planting. Otherwise pot them to keep the roots safe.
Sam - it depends where you are and how sheltered your garden. Most UK gardeners have to lift their gladioli corms and dahlias once the foliage has died down or been frosted and blackened. Dry off the soil, trim the stems and store in a cool, dark place till next spring. South western and big city gardeners may get away with leaving them in the ground.
Whilst I am excited about taking on a new garden (haven't found it yet!- I don't want to leave the one I've altered already) but there again a fresh slate can often be stimulating, so I am fnding the current piece on Gardeners World (TVprogramme) really interesting. Other half wants a brand new house plus plot which daunts me completely (houses and plots of around 1200sq metres readily available here- I would prefer a modern place but a semi-established garden, How have any of you coped with a brand new bare earth plot?? Try and encourage me in case other half wins! We are not youngsters anymore! Any good books out there?
Our current garden was carved out of cow pasture. Centuries of poo on deep, alkaline loam so very fertile but completely uneven and boggy and full of weeds, grass and just two ordinary pollarding willows and a gas tank. We spent the first few years here sorting out the house - kept the outside walls, roof and one lot of beams but everything else is new - to make it habitable and then comfortable before tackling the garden apart form having a man come with a bulldozer to smooth it out, take out those trees and scoop out a big pond for drainage and wildlife.
Now we too are on the move to a house that needs a bit of work but nothing major. The garden is larger, but half is pasture and a large chunk has been fenced off for hens (future veggie plot? ) and has neutral to acid soil and no heavy or prolonged frosts so I'm looking forward to getting stuck in and making something beautiful but simple to maintain and fun for the dogs and cat while we age disgracefully.
Have you started potting up your treasures and taking cuttings?
My current Potager was a Hen Pen 23 square metres and we have grown superb veg for the past 6yrs. I have started to pot on treasures, taking babies from around the edges of giant adults. The rose cuttings that I took earlier in the year are doing well. I am however being really hard on myself - I want to create a new garden in a semi-established garden, so my old stalwarts will stay behind having moved 3 times already. I think they should stay here as they are settled. There are so many new joys (varieties) out there that I feel I should take the plunge and have a change. It's the time of year that worries me.