I recently bought a different house and there are clematis and peonies that I wish to transplant to more sunny locations. When is the best time of year to do this? Do I prune them first? Any information will be appreciated. Thanks!

Hi DAG! Clematis can be transplanted in the fall. There are 2 types of clematis: One variety can be cut back severely and will come back in the spring. The other stays untouched and will grow back on old growth.

As far as peonies go, take a look here

Well when do you got time to dig?

Or, when the shears are sharp...

It doesn't matter when you transplant things, if you take steps in the transplanting. Of course you wouldn't transplant in the dead of winter when the ground is rock hard -

1. Prep the hole (which is like a pot) Mix the soil with a good composted material say 1 part compost, 4 parts native soil and 1 part of organic semi-composted material. or 2 parts compost to 3 parts soil

2. Keep it watered. Water well when you plant it and for the first couple of weeks water it every day.

3. The real shock is when you cut the roots, try to get as much of the roots as possible in your root ball. Also, use a rooting solution (vitamin B1 with a rooting hormone, b1 reduces shock)

4. Since you are transplanting from a shady spot, make a tent for the plant out of material which can shield the plant. move it for a few hours, adding a little more time each day in the full sun.

Lay in mulch, for the peonies say about 1 1/2 to 2 inches with about an inch from the base radius of un-mulched area. For the clematis about 2-3 inches of mulch with 3-4 inches from the base of clear area. 1. this reduced the growth of weeds. 2. it protects the soil from being sun baked which can damage roots which are trying to recover from the move. 3. It keeps moisture near the plant. 4 As mulch rots it feeds the plant. 5 In many cases it looks nice (Anything can be used as mulch, straw, hay, grass clippings, leaves raked and chopped with lawn mower, cocoa beans, Nut shells, etc.

Clematis: trim to no more than 1/2 of its leaf covering for transplanting, it will need its leaves to produce energy for the year.

Depending on the type, you can trim to size next year.

Be prepared to find that the peonies aren't happy; they may well die on you. They are notoriously difficult to move successfully. The traditional time for moving anything is when its growing season has ended and the plant is either shut down for the Winter or just about to start into growth in Spring. That's why nurserymen always sold trees, roses and shrubs bare -rooted ( not in pots or containers but just with bare roots).Then the plant would start anew into growth in its new soil, after the move, without the loss of active tissue and water and the shock of moving (it was moved when it was asleep ) Nowadays of course 'garden centres' and nurseries sell shrubs in containers and in flower; the plant sells better that way !

BTW It must be a fine clematis if you want to move it at all. Do you know what variety it is; what is it/are they ?