Hi Linda,
You can transplant hostas and iris anytime but spring is the best. They will have plenty time to reestablish their root systems as compared to fall time. As soon as you see the green shoots showing dig them up, divide them and replant. You could move the roots even sooner but it is hard unless you know right where the roots are. I have taken a large hosta out of the ground before, divided into four parts and replanted them all to make 4 plants. They always turn out looking great. I have also moved hostas in the summer before but it leaves the hosta with a flat side where the portion is removed so I like the spring best.Mums are treated a little different because you don’t want to set them back once the season is fully underway. So the only time you can move them without sacrificing blooms would be early before they develop too much. Dig up portions you want moved and replant them.
Sometimes the center of mums dies back (the mother). If this is the case, dig up the whole root system, divide and replant sections either separately for more plants or grouped together to make larger plants.
Happy Gardening,
Diane
P.S. We have directions for taking care of mums posted either in Tip of the Week’s past entries or in posting to this site.
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