Question about moving grounds cover and other plants

[RaRa]

Hi,

We're having an addition built to our home, and the landscaping will naturally get torn up. I'd like to save what I can - there are some peonies and lots of ground cover. I don't know the name; they have long and slender green leaves. Is there any technique to moving this? This will be temporary until next year when we landscape the yard again. We also have some evergreens I'd like to save, but I don't know how well they'll do in the move in this drought we're having. (in Illinois).

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Blue Gardener]

1. Can you make a nursery bed?

I've seen this done on Gardening by the Yard (HGTV). I don't have time to look up the episode right now, but I may have time later.

[NJCher]

2. Fine Gardening

They had an article on how to do it. Someone expanded their kitchen and wrote about how they did it. I checked the online back issues for you but couldn't find it. I'll check it next time I go to the library.



Cher

[Blue Gardener]

3. HGTV - Building Nursery Beds

This is the episode I was thinking of. Paul James uses these beds for both newly purchased plants and ones that have been dug up or divided.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_design_raised_bed/article/0,,HGTV_3570_1394714,00.html

[tekisui]

4. you can "hill" them in

just pick a spot in the shade where they can sit undisturbed. Dig a shallow hole or sit on the ground and mound up or "hill" dirt and/or mulch over all of the roots. the groundcover can have dirt over its leaves, it won't hurt it. then just keep the plants watered until your final move.

[TygrBright]

5. Your ground covers sound like liriope...

...do they set little spikes of flowers late in summer? If so, they are quite tough, you should be able to move them to a temporary bed and back without losing them, although they'll sulk a bit. On the peonies, if you can wait until they are starting to go dormant (the leaves will begin withering, etc.,) then just dig them up, whack off the stems, and store the roots in cool, dark, well-ventilated situation until they can be replanted.

The evergreens you can take a chance on... put them in a temporary bed enriched with a little Hollytone and/or peat or even moisture-retention crystals to keep the soil moistish, mulch them in very good, and protect from cold winds with a windbreak.

helpfully,
Bright