There comes a time in many gardeners' lives where they realize that a plant is in the wrong place and therefore needs moving.
It may be that a plant self seeded in a position and was left to mature, or that when it was originally planted you thought it wouldn't grow as big as it has.
Alternatively you may be overhauling an entire border and taking everything out prior to replanting.
Whatever the reason for you wanting to move plants it is important for you to move plants when it best suits their needs.
Oriental poppies can be moved at a number of times during the year but it is best done in the fall when plants are increasingly becoming dormant ahead of the long winter.
At this time of year you will do as little damage to root systems as possible.
If you move plants earlier in the fall then they may have a few weeks of root growth to help reestablish themselves, but this isn't completely necessary as the spring months will see vigorous root growth occurring.
Another time in which you can move them without too much stress is just after they have flowered.
At this time in their lifecycle it is necessary to cut away all flower stems and dying foliage back to the ground and therefore is an appropriate time to move plants.
If you are intending on moving mature specimens it is important to dig out as big as root ball as possible to keep a plant as entire as you can.
Never cut too close to a plant and if you are unsure where your Oriental poppies main root system may be err on the side of caution.
Digging between half a foot and a foot away from the main plant stem is normally sufficient, and you will be able to reduce this size and excess soil as you dig around the plant.
If possible, lift the entire mature Oriental poppy in one go and have a pre-dug place for you plant to go.
You may find when you lift specimens that plants have separated into a number of individual plants, something which can be easily seen if there are several main stems coming out of the plant root ball.
If you wish to split plants then this is the ideal time to do so and you can gently use a spade or fork to pull separate plants apart.
Once plants are in their new position you should cover them back with soil to the same height as the surface was in the original location.
Water thoroughly, especially if you have moved specimens in the summer after they have flowered.
You should continue this watering for several weeks, even when new leaves start appearing on plants, to ensure that the roots have the best opportunity to make a strong network in their new aspect.
Moving Oriental poppies is not hard and you should not be afraid of doing so.
In fact, in some instances where they have become clumped together or are in the wrong aspect, it can do plants the world of good.
And by using common sense, keeping as much root ball as possible and vigorously watering in, you can ensure your poppies continue to thrive.