Removing my garden(flower) plants. - Ask Extension
I need to remove plants from my old house and cannot take them to Newhouse. I want to invite my friends over to dig up plants to replant in ther yards...
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Removing my garden(flower) plants. #945017
Asked September 14, 2026, 2:03 PM EDT
I need to remove plants from my old house and cannot take them to Newhouse. I want to invite my friends over to dig up plants to replant in ther yards. Need advice what is better transplanted in fall or spring. Includes Azalea bush, peony bushes, butterfly bush, rhubarb plant, day lilies, Bonica rose bush, hollyhocks, swamp milkweed, hosta, irises, sedum.
Lucas County Ohio
Expert Response
Kathy,
Thanks for reaching out. I think it's wonderful that you are sharing your plants.
If you want to have a single digging day, then it is probably best to do it early spring just as new growth begins to appear. Although this isn't the optimal time for irises, they should survive, but may not flower that year. Note, rhubarb, really should be transplanted before it shows sign of new growth in the spring.
If you are willing to do it in stages, then here's some advice.
The following plants can be transplanted in early fall, as the plants are going dormant but soils temps are still warm, or early spring just as buds appears:
Peony bushes, butterfly bush, day lilies, Bonica rose bush, hollyhocks, swamp milkweed, hosta, and sedum.
Azaleas are best transplanted in early spring while plants are still dormant to allow plants to reestablish their roots prior to the following winter.
Irises are best transplanted late summer/early fall.
Rhubarb is best transplanted in early fall or early spring before new growth begins.
Plants that are transplanted in fall must be watered
that fall leading up to dormancy in winter and in spring, summer and fall the following year until established. Plants that are transplanted in the spring must be watered in the spring, summer and fall until established.
All the best.
Roxanne
Thanks for reaching out. I think it's wonderful that you are sharing your plants.
If you want to have a single digging day, then it is probably best to do it early spring just as new growth begins to appear. Although this isn't the optimal time for irises, they should survive, but may not flower that year. Note, rhubarb, really should be transplanted before it shows sign of new growth in the spring.
If you are willing to do it in stages, then here's some advice.
The following plants can be transplanted in early fall, as the plants are going dormant but soils temps are still warm, or early spring just as buds appears:
Peony bushes, butterfly bush, day lilies, Bonica rose bush, hollyhocks, swamp milkweed, hosta, and sedum.
Azaleas are best transplanted in early spring while plants are still dormant to allow plants to reestablish their roots prior to the following winter.
Irises are best transplanted late summer/early fall.
Rhubarb is best transplanted in early fall or early spring before new growth begins.
Plants that are transplanted in fall must be watered
that fall leading up to dormancy in winter and in spring, summer and fall the following year until established. Plants that are transplanted in the spring must be watered in the spring, summer and fall until established.
All the best.
Roxanne
