As we head towards fall, it is a great time to start thinking about landscaping chores, specifically transplanting landscape plants. Relocating plants can drastically change the appearance of your home or property without much expense. For most plants, fall and early winter are the best time of year to move them from one location in your landscape to another. Here are some tips and tricks for moving plants successfully.
First off, make sure you do it at the correct time of year. As I mentioned, fall and early winter are ideal times for moving plants for two big reasons- first and foremost, the plants are most likely entering dormancy or fully dormant, which means they aren’t going to be growing as much. This slow down in growth means the plant can invest more resources in getting itself established in a new location. If the plant is actively growing, it will be expending resources to put on leaves/foliage, add size, flower and reproduce, and at the same time be trying to grow its root system. The second reason fall and winter is the best time of year is the reduction in environmental stress and water needs. As weather cools off and we get some rain, plants that are relocated will need less watering and be less stressed by the heat and sunlight we get other times of year. It’s important not to move plants in times of extreme cold or frost however, so do pay attention to the weather if you’re considering transplanting.
The next thing to consider is the size of the plant and it’s root ball. If you dig a plant and sever too many roots, it will not survive the transplant shock. It is often easy to relocate small plants as their root system is fairly compact. Root-pruning is a common technique for large trees and shrubs for helping increase root growth prior to transplant. If you plan to transplant in fall, cleanly cut a trench around the root ball of the tree or shrub in March to sever roots and encourage root growth within the confined area. The size of the trench depends on the size of the tree or shrub- it is recommended to dig a minimum diameter of 18” around the plant, or 12” in diameter for every 1” of trunk diameter. Mature trees and shrubs will have a root ball that is far larger than what you will be able to dig up on your own. If the root ball with soil is too difficult for your to handle, you can consider moving the plant as a bare root transplant. This should be done in late winter when the plant is in full dormancy. To move a plant bare root, dig the plant according to the guidelines above, then shake and excavate the roots from the soil. This can reduce the bulk and weight of the plant you’re transplanting and make it easier to handle, but will require more fill in the planting hole at the new location.
Before you dig up your plant, it’s a good idea to make sure your new site is well prepared for it. It is recommended to till the ground lightly and add any soil amendments ahead of time. We do not recommend adding fertilizer directly to the planting hole as it can cause nitrogen burns on the roots of plants. Once the new planting site is ready, move your root ball or bare root plant to the new location. Be sure to place it at the same depth it was originally planted- planting too deep is one of the top causes of plant death! Add fill to the hole as needed and water the plant thoroughly.
For the next year, your transplant will need special attention. Be sure to water the tree thoroughly once a week if it does not rain. If you transplant a large tree or shrub, consider adding stakes to help support the height of the tree, encourage it to grow anchor roots, and reduce the risk of it being blown over by heavy winds. In the spring after transplanting when the tree is putting out leaves, scatter a pint of 10-10-10 fertilizer under the branches and water it in. Finally, consider adding mulch around the base of the plants to conserve water, improve soil temperature, and prevent competing plants and weeds. Mulch at least twice the size of the planting hole for best results. If you have questions about transplanting, please let us know at uge3181@uga.edu or 706-359-3233.
