You could just pot up some of the perennials now and overwinter them outdoors and then plant them in the spring.

I don't think perennials would be happy to overwinter in a basement. They need a cold period.

You could try planting the larger perennials or shrubs in their new home as long as the soil isn't frozen and it won't be in late Oct or early Nov. (I live in SE PA, also.)

Thanks Blue Heron!

I thought about trying to dig and plant within the same week, which I guess I can just see how the soil is at the new house, was just afraid that the roots wouldn't have time to re-establish before the soil froze and it might stress them out (though maybe they will be just as stressed in burlap). I do think the ideal situation is to have them in their new homes vs wrapped somewhere or in a pot but guess it just depends on the winter this year.

Unfortunately for us the timing of finding a house we didn't know we wanted is coinciding with winter coming--and I had planted many things this year expecting to be in this house for at least 5 years.

I could also put them all together in the barn, keep forgetting that we may have a barn. That might work better if they need a cold period and I can't get them planted?

Also wasn't sure if the 'dark' of the basement would kill the upper stems, so maybe barn is better anyway if they can get some light?

I also have peonies that just arrived a few weeks ago that I put into pots for now, sad that I won't see flowers next year from them, can those overwinter directly outside or would barn be better for them as well?

Just a legal comment, though I'm not a lawyer. Unless you included in the sale of house documents that you are going to be taking plants and the buyers agreed, the new owners legally own them and might be very angry to find them gone.

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