How to Transplant a Shrub | Step-By-Step Guide, by Proven Winners ColorChoice Flowering Shrubs on YouTube. 17 min 47 s.
- Video length
- 17 min 47 s
- Time to do it
- 1 to 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Pick the right time. Early spring before new growth starts, or early fall, lets the roots settle in cool, moist weather.
Water the shrub deeply two days before you dig so the root ball holds together.
Dig the new hole first. Make it twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth, so the shrub sits at its old level.
Tie the branches up loosely with twine so they stay out of the way and do not snap.
Dig a trench around the shrub, about 12 inches out for every inch of trunk width, then work the spade under the root ball.
Slide a tarp or burlap under the root ball and lift it with a helper or a cart. Keep the soil around the roots.
Set the shrub in the hole with the top of the root ball level with the ground around it.
Backfill with the soil you dug out and firm it gently to close air pockets. Build a low soil ring around the edge.
Water slowly until the soil is soaked, then spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch, keeping it a few inches clear of the stems.
Water deeply once a week for the first growing season, and more often in hot or dry spells.
Tips and common mistakes
Move the shrub on a cool, cloudy day to cut water loss from the leaves.
Prune back about a third of the top growth before digging to balance the smaller root system.
Lift by the root ball, never by the stems, and bend your knees to protect your back.
Skip fertilizer at planting time and wait until you see new growth.
Questions
When is the best time to move a shrub?
Early spring before growth starts, or early fall once the heat has passed. Both give the roots cool, moist weather to settle in.
Will the shrub survive being moved?
Most shrubs do if you take a root ball wide enough and water it deeply through the first season. Evergreens and very old shrubs are slower to recover.
Can I move a shrub in summer?
It is risky because the plant loses water fast. If you must, water daily for the first week and shade it from strong afternoon sun.
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.
