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pulling up roots and moving

primitiveatheart's picture

pulling up roots and moving (post #12703)

primitiveatheart on Thu, 07/05/2007 - 05:38
in

We are building a new home and since I have spent considerable dollars and time with my current home and yard, I plan to dig up and take many plants with me to the new place (which is only 1/2 mile away)  but I will be digging stuff up in the middle of the growing season. So my question is this: is it better to cut shrubs such as climbing roses and spireas back to be able to pot them up temporarily til I can replant them in the late fall or leave them as close to the actively growing plant they are at this time of year?  I hate to dig them up in the middle of the summer but, since we are going to sell our current home I want to dig  up and  pot  as   much as I can before the lookiloos come to see the house.  I feel like if I leave all the branches as they are the plant may put more energy into the current growth whereas if I cut the plants/shrubs back quite a bit it may help the plant cope with  being  uprooted  and potted up for the summer. But then again I don't want to shock the plants by cutting away too much growth during the peak of growing season.  What do you think?  I think it would be best to cut the plants back to a foot or so to make it easier to transplant and move them and so they put their energy into the roots rather than the current seasons growth... am I right? I look forward to all and any input !!!Otherwise I'll just have to take my chances!

-A +A
U4BUH's picture

(post #12703, reply #1 of 6)

by U4BUH in reply to primitiveatheart [original] on Sat, 07/07/2007 - 05:32

I have had luck helping my friend move lots of plants in July during a move. We were moving plants not shrubs though. We cut them way back and potted them up and then left them in a shady part of her new patio. She watered occasionally and most made it. I would hesitate to do this on tempremental shrubs like good roses which could die back to the root graph. My friend also put a stipulation in the house sale contract that she could return to dig up some of her roses months later, talk to your realtor about this. Have fun gardening in new beds!! And Good luck.

arkriver's picture

(post #12703, reply #2 of 6)

by arkriver in reply to primitiveatheart [original] on Sat, 07/07/2007 - 16:13

Realize that there may be legal ramifications to what you are doing. Discuss it with your real estate agent. I think (not sure) if you remove things before you find a buyer you are ok, after you find a buyer not OK

Emilie's picture

(post #12703, reply #3 of 6)

by Emilie in reply to Anonymous [original] on Sat, 07/07/2007 - 18:03

In both Connecticut and New York, you simply have to include it in the contract. I also told the new owners that I would dig up some things when the first interest was expressed in the house. A friend bought a house in Lakeville, Ct from which very many plants were removed. As this was part of the agreement, it all went well.

arkriver's picture

(post #12703, reply #4 of 6)

by arkriver in reply to Anonymous [original] on Sat, 07/07/2007 - 22:15

If all is known up front then I guess everyone is happy

primitiveatheart's picture

(post #12703, reply #5 of 6)

by primitiveatheart in reply to Anonymous [original] on Sat, 07/07/2007 - 23:34

I do know that if some one sees and likes the house with all the plants I wont be moving anything major.  Right now I'm just moving plants and shrubs that are so crowded from my overzealous initial filling up of the empty beds that it just looks tidier and better and you can't really tell anything was removed.  I am actually going to list the  house Monday.  Haven't had any lookiloos, except this is a small town and every body knows we are going to sell our house.  I will be able to "feel" out the buyer and our real estate agent as far as whoever buys the house, if they are avid gardeners or not, if they are not going to want all the plantings, I even have a fish pond I hate to part with.  If they are going to fill it with dirt, you can bet your bottom dollar I'm going to take my fish with me.  All my boulders too for that matter.  But if they love to garden, love the house and the yard and plan to take care of it,  I won't take any pf the major shrubs and plants that really stand out.   but even though its HOT this wekend, I'm digging stuff up to beat the band!  But once the deal is made I won't change anything in the yard, unless the buyer says it's okay. 


Question: are all roses, climbing and otherwise,  started from grafts on other roses.  How can you tell if a rose is grafted or  not.  My climbing rose has so many stems and branches it looks like one plant from the root up.

arkriver's picture

(post #12703, reply #6 of 6)

by arkriver in reply to Anonymous [original] on Sun, 07/08/2007 - 14:05

Grafting--- not sure with roses but with trees, there is usually a bulge where the graft was made and it is normally near the soil line. So, with roses I would check there first.
I think the secret to moving plants this time of year, is to be sure to keep a good soil ball attached to the roots and to water, water, water, water. You might also trim back the tops about 1/2 on shrubs since the roots are not really able to provide the goodies that the top needs.
Remember that once you sell the house, it is no longer yours so don't get all upset when things change.