Question
QUESTION: Hi.

My Shasta daisies (3) planted right next to each other...are huge 24"+ by 24"+ (haven't started to flower yet) and don't seem to have adequate drainage or spacing where they are located.  Today, I noticed some of the stalks at the bottom wilting and rotting on one of the plants.

I'd like to move and separate them before it gets any later in the season, but am nervous they are too large to do that safely (for them, not me) right now.

Do you have any advice?

ANSWER: Hello Alice,

One of the terrific things about plants is that you can actually move them while fooling them into thinking that nothing has happened. The trick is to do so with the optimum conditions.

First, water your daisies. Never move a plant that is dry. If it is hot and dry, wait until the hottest part of the day is over.

Next, prepare the locations where you would like them to go. Dig a hole, put some compost mixed with soil in the hole, and moisten it.

Take a big garden fork (a shovel will do if you don't have one) and, digging well under the clump, lift it from the ground. I think that you will find that the roots are near the soil surface.

Separate the two plants. Moisten them if this helps to separate them.

Pop them into their separate planting holes, add soil or compost, mulch, and plenty of water. Wait a day or two, and then give them some diluted fertilizer that is not too high in nitrogen.

Watch them in flowing days to make certain that they do not dry out.

That should do it!

Is this clear?  Please feel free to write back with any questions or concerns.

Best wishes,

Donna


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So pleased with such a quick reply!  Thank you :o)

When I posed my situation...I didn't clarify the fact that I want to relocate AND propagate/divide each of the three plants.  I'm sure I will have at least 3 for each individual plant.  

Should I propagate AND relocate them?  Or should I just relocate and propagate them in the fall?

Again, thanks!!

Answer
You are truly welcome!

Well..

It would really be better for the plants if you did not divide them just before they bloom, which is, I believe, the stage at which they are now. Plants bloom to attract pollinators, and to survive. They put out tremendous amounts of energy doing so. Some bloom themselves to death doing it. Relocation is perfectly safe. But propagation is risky. And if you attempted it, it would really be wise to cut off all the flowers to spare the plants the stress, so that it is not attempting to bloom and reestablish itself at the same time - and cutting the blooms off defeats the purpose!

It would be wiser to relocate now and propagate them in the fall.

Does this make sense?

Donna