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Is it terrible to move them now?

13 years ago

My garden is under attack from voles, big time. I started moving things into pots or wire cages a few weeks ago, but then had to go out of town, so I lost a week of working out there. (planning on sinking the pots back into the soil and mulching the tops with pea gravel.) I don't think I could possibly trap all the voles and I don't feel comfy using poison with my dogs around, so I'm afraid I'm going to be facing a Spring next year with destroyed or severely damaged plants if I can't protect them in some way before the winter. I am particularly nervous about a big hole under Liberty...but dread digging it up as well!

Am I risking their survival by even moving or potting them this late in the season? I don't really know when the first frost is...seemed like it was late November last year. I remember having annuals still blooming that late last year.

What are your experiences moving or potting late in the season?

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Comments (5)

thisismelissa
13 years ago
Generally, the rule of thumb is 6 weeks before the hard frosts in your area. Here in MN, that date is Oct 15, so we really shouldn't be moving stuff after Labor Day.

But, I will be planting this weekend after a swap on Saturday.
I think the key is going to be to make sure that the soil is sufficiently watered in so that there's not any pockets of air. And they should be mulched very well with an organic mulch. I don't think I'd do pea gravel.
Babka NorCal 9b
13 years ago
Here is a link to first frost data.

Here is a link that might be useful: First frost data
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coll_123
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for that link, Babka, but it doesn't really cover my town, which is right on the coast. I reviewed pics from last year and had some hosta that were still green by Halloween last year (Touch of class, High Society,- the Halcyon family which I know are the last to go down). But then I also have pics of the calibrocha in my deck boxes that were still blooming up until it snowed in December, so I'm confused as to what constitutes "hard frost".

I have pine mulch everywhere, and the voles have used it to tunnel everywhere undetected. I though gravel mulch was recommended to prevent them from being able to do that. Why would it be recommended not to use that? I'm just a nervous wreck about my hosta collection getting thru this winter when I see all the holes in the ground out there as I move mulch around. Usually I just leave it all and forget about it until next Spring, but I feel like I can't do that this year and don't really know how to put it to bed.

What exactly is the danger of planting or replanting when you're less than six weeks away from frost? I've just heard you shouldn't do it, but don't know why?
aahostas
13 years ago
coll,
Freeze and thawing can heave the plant out of the ground if it doesn't have time to anchor its roots down. The pea gravel will actually help with this.I have planted as late as November here without any problems.I feel that watering is the key to getting the plant established even if the leaves fade away ,the roots remain active until the ground freezes,,Have You considered Xanax? You are worrying waaay tooo much girl! If the Liberty is huge,then get the poison in the hole under it, put the three bricks over it ,check it for activity and relax...I cannot visit you if you do not sleep! :)

Denny
peggy_hosta
13 years ago
Why not try some of those mouse bait blocks like 'Tom Cat'?
Find the hole and drop a block in and cover it up again- quite simple.
Peggy

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