When to Move a Gooseneck Plant
Deriving its name from curved flower spikes, gooseneck plants (Lysimachia clethroides) produce numerous white flowers stretching across 8-inch-long stems. Because the plant only reaches a conservative 12 to 36 inch height and spread, the flower spikes are highly visible, growing in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. If you want to move your gooseneck loosestrife, avoid transplanting it during its main blooming season.
Goosenecks' main flowering period stretches between July and September; it uses the hot summer to engage cold-blooded pollinators, from butterflies to bees. Transplant your gooseneck near the end of September or early October when flowers are fading. Autumn transplants take advantage of mild weather and early rains for less plant shock. Roots have a chance to establish themselves before cooler winter weather. When spring and summer return, your gooseneck can flower normally without missing a season from transplant stress.
You can move gooseneck plants in the early spring. Temperatures remain mild and soil is still relatively damp from late rains to nourish transplanted roots. Because this perennial spreads through underground stems, it quickly recovers from transplanting in a well-drained soil location. If conditions are optimal, goosenecks will flower as normal in the summer. However, poor soil texture and dry conditions may cause flowers to fail. Next season, with an amended soil location, flowers burst upward for a blast of garden color.
Watering your goosenecks the day before transplanting gives them a full 24 hours to absorb moisture for durability during the moving process. Using a shovel, cut into the soil approximately 6 inches away from the gooseneck's crown. Scoop soil and the plant out of the location. If you have a large gooseneck population, divide the plants from one another before transplanting into the new location. Each gooseneck needs its own planting hole that easily houses the entire root ball. After planting and watering your gooseneck, spread 2 to 4 inches of mulch across the soil. Organic selections, like shredded bark, provide water conservation and added nutrients to the soil as the mulch breaks down.
Transplanting gooseneck plants in spring or autumn allows their roots to recover without heat stress. Summer heat requires a lot of moisture absorption through the roots for basic survival. Transplant stress causes reduced root activity, from stunted growth to poor moisture absorption, on a temporary basis. Proper transplanting also rejuvenates the gooseneck once established, especially if you divide it. Crowded plants have reduced vigor and poor flowering quantities. Avoiding extreme heat and cold during gooseneck transplanting encourages a long lifespan.
Writing professionally since 2010, Amy Rodriguez cultivates successful cacti, succulents, bulbs, carnivorous plants and orchids at home. With an electronics degree and more than 10 years of experience, she applies her love of gadgets to the gardening world as she continues her education through college classes and gardening activities.