Fall Planting info

We will NOT be selling bareroot peonies this fall as we just moved and divided our 'patch' last year. We do have several types in containers ready to go home with you. One of the questions I always get asked at the Farmer's Market about our potted plants....."is it okay to plant these now?" If it wasn't.........I wouldn't be selling them!!!! We are a responsible plant nursery, and don't sell plants out of their planting season (if they have one). You should stop digging & dividing plants if you have not already. Moving an entire plant without ruining the rootball can still be done for about 2 more weeks. Dig the new hole first, then dig plant, leaving the plant on the shovel when possible and slide into new planting hole. Too much soil disruption from the root ball, and it's just like planting bareroot. The attached soil is the 'roothairs' lifeline to water. Just because you water a plant right away, it doesn't mean it has the ability to 'take up' water until it's root hairs get established again. A plant in a container (pot) can be planted into the ground as long as the 'soil is workable.' So normally thru October, but the sooner the better. KEEP THE ROOT ROOTBALL INTACT. If it is tightly wound at the bottom, a few gentle cuts with a scissors or tickling of the roots to encourage them to grow out, the less you disturb it the better. Had a new gardener tell me this spring she always had trouble with her veggie plants. When I asked her how she planted them, she replied " I remove all the soil off the roots and plant them in the ground" enuf said!!!! =(
(reminder....garden classes in the spring, details will be posted later)