How to Move a Large Garden Plant or Shrub, 10 top tips!, by Mark's House and Garden UK on YouTube. 15 min 2 s.
- Video length
- 15 min 2 s
- Time to do it
- 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Water the shrub deeply the day before you move it so the roots and surrounding soil are moist.
Choose a cool, damp, overcast day. Skip hot sunny weather, which puts the plant under stress while it is out of the ground.
Dig the new hole before you lift anything. Make it wider than the root ball and about the same depth, then add a little compost and soak it.
Cut a circle around the shrub with a long handled spade, keeping as much of the root ball as you can. A few cut roots are fine and encourage new growth.
Lift the root ball onto a tarpaulin or board and carry it by the soil, not by the stem.
Set the shrub in the hole straight away. Check from a distance that it stands vertical, backfill with soil and firm it in, checking the upright position as you go.
Shape a doughnut style dip in the soil around the base so water drains down to the roots. Top dress with a little compost.
Prune lightly to balance the roots with the foliage, then take the trimmings off site rather than leaving them on the soil.
Keep the shrub well watered for up to 18 months while it establishes in its new home.
Tips and common mistakes
Lift with your legs and keep your back straight, and ask someone to help with a large wet root ball.
Do not let the root ball dry out between lifting and replanting, even for an hour.
Plant the shrub at the same soil depth it grew at before, since burying the stem can kill it.
Water deeply and less often rather than giving a light sprinkle every day.
Questions
When is the best time to move a shrub?
Autumn or early spring works best, while the plant is not growing hard. The soil is still warm then, so roots can settle in before the next season.
Can I move a shrub in summer?
It is possible if you soak it the day before, work on a cool damp day and water it constantly afterwards. Expect more stress and some leaf drop.
Will the shrub die if I cut through some roots?
Usually not. A little root damage can trigger new growth, but bring as much of the root ball as you can to help the plant re-establish.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
