Bulbs on the Move

Can hardy bulbs be moved any time of the year? I'd like to move mine, but they're still in bloom.

—Bill Barrett, Mt. Vernon, Texas

Melinda:

The best time to move hardy bulbs is when you'd normally plant new bulbs—late summer in the far north, fall in most parts of the country and early winter for some Southern gardeners. The only problem is finding these dormant bulbs beneath the soil's surface.The next best time to move bulbs is as the foliage begins to wither. By then, the plants have had time to replenish spent energy, but still have leaves attached to the bulbs. This makes them much easier to find.

Moving bulbs in full bloom is the least desirable time to move the plants. If you must move flowering bulbs, provide extra care to insure success. Remove the blossoms, but leave the foliage so the plant can produce and store energy for next year's floral display. Water the transplanted bulbs as needed, while the leaves are green and growing.