How to transplant perennials...without killing them!

[Solo2]

I need to dig up and hopefully re-plant elsewhere in the garden several established perennials this July. we're having a natural swimming pond built where two established flower beds have been and before the earth is excavated, I need to rescue my plants?

Can anyone give me any tips about reducing the likelihood of my perennials dying in the process? There are too many to list but plants include miniature broom, giant poppies, even a small sculptured variegated box bush - but none is more than about 3 to 4 foot high. I'll have to move them from a south facing bed to an east facing or south east facing prospect that gets quite a loss less sun than they're used to.

Green-fingered MNetters please advise! [smile}

Only dig up as many as you can re-plant straight away, as they might otherwise wilt quickly. Once they are in, water them well every evening for a week or so.

Also, get as much earth around them as possible so you don't disturb the roots more than you must - it means digging more and digging a bigger hole to put them in though!

Hmm. I suspect that they won't all transplant.

The advice above is definitely right, but in addition, I'd add a couple more tips

• absolutely soak them with water the day before you move them
• with herbaceous perennials, cut the flowering stems right down to the ground, and take off some of the foliage if you think it looks suitable - I saw a demo at Hampton Court with a gardener advising you to take off the top two-thirds of the foliage before transplanting certain herbceous perennials.