Q. When is it safe to plant bleeding heart .I received a plant but know nothing about when I can put it in my garden. Thank you for any advice you can give me. Christina Mulac – Louisville, Kentucky
A. Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis) is a hardy perennial in the continental US. Hardy means it can survive the coldest temperatures in the winter and perennial means it comes up multiple years (as in perennially). Like other hardy perennials they can be sown in the spring or in the fall. If you bought the plants as dormant roots then plant them as soon as you can work the soil. This means waiting until frost leaves the soil and the soil dries out sufficiently. This prevents damage to the soil structure. To tell if the soil has dried out sufficiently take a hand full and squeeze it together lightly into a ball. Then drop it to the soil surface from about 18 inches. If the ball breaks apart the soil is dry enough to work. If it stays in a firm ball then you should wait. If the plant is grown in a container it can also be planted as soon as the soil is ready except if the plant was grown in a protected structure, like an greenhouse or coldframe. If it was bought at a garden center you can ask them if the plant has been outdoors unprotected for at least two weeks. If so then plant away! Bleeding heart prefers a partly shady spot – especially when grown in an area with hot summers like you can get in Louisville.