Dig holes for your transplants first to minimize the time between removal and planting. For bulbs and other smaller plants, a drain spade is ideal for digging deep, narrow holes. Dig a hole several inches deeper than the roots of your plant and about two inches wider all around. Space holes to accommodate the size of the plants at maturity to give them room to grow and multiply.

In areas with heavy soil, you may want to add mulch, peat moss or other amendments to the bottoms of the holes to encourage root growth and drainage. Mix in the amendments with a cultivator.

Use a drain spade to dig deeply around the plants you want to move, allowing about two inches of space around the plant. The drain spade is ideal for transplanting in tight spaces because its narrow head lets you dig in deep with minimal disruption to neighboring plants. Gently work the plant loose from the soil and lift it from the hole.

An aluminum scoop is perfect for transporting smaller plants to their new locations. Larger plants may need to be moved with a wheelbarrow or cart.

Gently work bulbs apart with your hands to minimize damage. Where bulbs are tightly packed together, you can cut them into sections using the sharp edge on the Planter’s Pal. It’s important to use a clean, sharp edge whenever cutting roots or bulbs.

Hold the bulb in the hole so the crown of the plant, where the stems emerge from the bulbs, is level with the surrounding soil. Use a hand trowel to fill the hole and lightly tamp in the dirt. Fill with a little more soil and tamp again with the trowel.

Water the new bulbs thoroughly. Do not tamp again after watering. If the leaves are still green, leave them on the plant until they dry up on their own. Mulch lightly and wait for your perennials to do their magic again in the spring.