Transplanting Potted Perennials in Autumn

by Linda
(Burlington, Ontario)

This is more of a suggestion than a question. Every autumn when I start dividing my perennials which have overtaken the area which I have designated for them, I will pot them and then bury the pots in my now empty vegetable gardens until springtime when I know whether I should replant them somewhere else in my garden or share them with friends and family. burying the pot allows for the roots to establish themselves and with the pots and roots below soil levels protects the plants from winter damage and die-off.
Just a suggestion. Linda from Burlington, Ontario

Doug says that when he's growing perennial plants in containers, he takes them out of the container and puts them in the veg garden to overwinter. I also crowd them all together because I'm going to dig them up again first thing in the spring.

You can pot up your perennials and replant (always using plastic pots as cheap clay pots will usually break or spall terribly) but it's not necessary for plant success. To me, it's just one step of work more that I can avoid - as long as I'm going to move them in the spring anyway... And having them in the ground bare-root motivates me to clean them out and get the veg in. :-)

But as with all things gardening - if this works for you - then it's a great suggestion. :-)