THE rain and warmth has brought a pleasing surge and herbaceous plants are beginning to move at last. Nevertheless slower movers, especially some of the autumn flowering ones, can still be divided.
Ornamental grasses and perennial lobelia are happier with division when in active growth. The lobelia especially will require planting into nicely-dug and enriched soil. Needless to remark divided or newly-acquired plants will need watering as the disturbed roots will have difficulty in maintaining growth and in settling in.
As daffodils fade their leafy legacy becomes a nuisance. This must be borne with for six weeks after flowering so that the slowly dying foliage can feed and build up the bulb for next year's flowering. Impatient gardeners who cut away leaves too soon will have no flowers next year.
I find this a good time to move daffodils around. Care needs to be taken so that roots and stems are not too damaged. That way I can get bulbs to the back of the borders where they will be nice next spring and where their floppy leaves will be less obtrusive. Planted are fully in their new positions the bulbs can settle and the leaves will die back naturally.