Adding dirt OVER perennials

by Deb
(Indpls, IN)

I have an area next to the house that includes snakeroot, hostas, coral bells, and a couple of others. The area has settled over the years and I need to add 4-7 inches of dirt. Do I HAVE to dig everything up, and replant after adding the dirt, or will they grow up through it?

Doug says you really want to dig it all up, fill in the garden and replant. Burying those crowns that far down is almost guaranteed to be a recipe for disaster. (I'm in the same situation with some of my beds and I'm digging it all up - moving them to temporary beds for this summer - adding soil and them moving everything back this fall.)