It is now mid-October. Is it too late to transplant perennials or plant shrubs and trees?
Question:
It is now mid-October. Is it too late to transplant perennials or plant shrubs or trees?
Answer:
Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional
At this point, it’s probably better to wait until spring. Transplants typically need about 4-6 weeks to reestablish their root systems, and if that doesn’t happen before the ground freezes the plant can suffer from it as the plant may not be sufficiently hydrated going into winter. It’s always tricky to guess what the weather will do, and there are some species you might be able to roll the dice with at this point, but it’s a safer option all around to do it next year.
Happy gardening.