Hey everyone! I'm in Central MD (zone 7) and I have two plants that I really need to move in my yard. I'm not worried about seeing any blooms this year since I'm juggling a new baby, but I want to make sure I do this right. How late in the year is it too late to relocate a butterfly bush and a peony? The butterfly bush is in the front and gets morning light, while the peony is on the southwest side with plenty of afternoon sun. I want to move both to my sunny backyard, but I'm concerned about potential shade from my neighbor's new solid-side fence. Is there a window for when is the best time to move these?
3 Answers
I’ve had both plants, and the butterfly bush is pretty tough. Just water it well after moving and you’re good! For the peony, definitely wait until fall if you can. You can even divide it then and it should come back strong. I’ve moved them in the summer and they survived, but it’s not ideal. Just make sure it’s not too deep!
Honestly, the peony is a bit tricky. The best time to move it is in the fall when you can see the new stems. Just make sure you plant it at the right depth or it won't bloom. If you can wait, take your time with it!
You should be fine with your butterfly bush! I planted mine last spring, and it thrived. Just be sure to prune it back a bit and dig deep to get as many roots as you can when moving it. As for the peony, it might not look great this year after moving, but it should bounce back next season!
This is so helpful, thank you! I plan to move both at the same time since I’m okay with no blooms this year. I’ve been putting this off for a couple of years!