Moving a plant from one location to another can be tricky. Some plants are hardier and respond better to a move than others.
Here are some general tips to consider when transplanting a plant or shrub:
1. Pop it out. When digging a shrub out of its current location, give it its best shot at survival by salvaging as much of the root as possible. Use the canopy, or circumference of the plant’s leaves, as a guide, and dig outside of this area. Insert your shovel straight down into the soil and as deep as the shovel head goes. Also, note which way the shrub is facing. Mark the “front” with a piece of ribbon or twine.
2. Give it some time. Once you have removed the plant from its original location, let it sit above ground for a couple of days. Protect the root ball from drying out by surrounding it with leaves or mulch, and water the area thoroughly. This allows the plant to become accustomed to its new home.
3. Plant it. In the plant’s new location, dig a hole that is wider than the root ball and at a depth that will allow the roots to be completely buried. When you insert the plant, try your best to place it according to its original orientation, facing north, south, east or west.
– Craig Grabow is the manager and staff horticulturist/arborist at Central Lawn Care. He is the treasurer of the Kentucky Arborist Association and president of the Fort Mitchell Tree Board. He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in plant and soil science.
