Expert: C.L. Fornari - 7/4/2008

Question
I planted my impatients about 4 weeks ago and I just realized that I should have planted them further back in the flower bed.  They grow really well in this flower bed - we live the mountains of Western North Carolona and it gets full shade most of the day after 10:30 or so - so I know they will end up spreading onto my sidewalk.  Can I move these plants back about a foot in the same flower bed and if I can what is the best way to do move them?

Answer
Jennifer,
Yes, you can move these plants successfully at this time of the summer. Water the bed well using a sprinkler, not hand watering, so that the soil is soaked deeply. For most sprinklers this means keeping it on the bed at least an hour. Dig each plant up with a shovel, not a hand trowel, so that you get as much of the root system as possible. Set the plants aside and then loosen the soil in the new area with the shovel - after loosening dig the new holes and plant the impatiens - then water in well.  You may have to water the plants more frequently for the next two or three weeks but after that go back to watering as normal.  (Don't assume that they need water - feel the soil and look at the plants to see initial signs of wilting.  If the soil is moist and the plants look OK then wait another day before watering.)

If you can do the move in the morning that would be better than in the heat of the afternoon.   The plants may wilt at first but if they are kept moist they will recover quickly.

I hope this helps!
C.L.