Overcrowding?

[jayvee64]

I planted some plug plants in a small patch of the garden I'd reserved for that purpose. It looked so bare when I planted them and I think I may have got carried away as now the plants have really come to life and completely fill the area. ! I have another area some way off I'd like to transform into a wildflower patch but when's the best time to transplant/divide my established plants. Should this be when they've died off, now, or next spring?

[Littlesparrow]

Most plants are better moved or divided either in the autumn when they start to die back or early in the spring before they get going. don't forget to save any seeds to plant next year.

[bigdave60dog]

You dont say what the plants are. Plug plants are usually annuals. If you preserve the root soil in a ball dig a hole and plant, puddle in with awatering can. Almost anything can be moved this way as they don`t realise that they have been moved. Some like Achillia are excepton and nearly always die if you kove the whilst flowering whatever you do.
Dpo`n worry if they droop they usually pick up after a bit.
If you laeve them overcrowded they won`t di very well in any case so what have you got to lose.
Dave

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by bigdave60dog

Plug plants are usually annuals.

That is by no means the case if the plants have been bought from one of the specialist native plant suppliers, most of which only supply perrenials and biennials as plugs.

Originally Posted by jayvee64

I have another area some way off I'd like to transform into a wildflower patch but when's the best time to transplant/divide my established plants.

If we are talking about native plants, allow the existing plants to set seed - this will provide you with the option to propogate new plants and to make good on any winter losses. Most native plants benefit from tight planting so that isn't a problem but if you want to propogate by division, so long as you do not have very heavy, wet soil, and are not in an area subject to prolonged winter cold, then any time in the winter months is OK for division, although early spring is probably the optimal time. There will always be exceptions however and it's always best to plan for losses (hence the seed collection !)

CM

[jayvee64]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I believe they're all perennials, fox and cubs, cranesbill's, birds foot trefoil and to be honest, some I've forgotten the name of and am now having fun identifying as they grow!. All are doing really well. I'll enjoy them this summer then get to work.

JV