Transplanting Trees And Shrubs
Simple Tips For You

Transplanting a tree or shrub is very possible. There are certain simple tips for you to follow to ensure your plants have the best chance for survival.

I always tell my clients up front, that there is not a hundred percent guarantee of survival when you are taking a live plant specimen from one area to the next.

A good rule of thumb for most plants is not to transplant them after a few years in the ground. Many plants have deep root systems. The root system is made up of several different size roots. The large root is called the mother tap root and it is important not to damage this root.

The best time of year to move a plant is in the fall or early spring. Your goal is to allow the roots to get established in their new setting. There are a few simple steps that you can take to give your tree or shrub a good start.

Below are a few pictures along with some easy tips on how to go about transplanting your tree or shrub.

The first photo shows you a Hydrangea plant in its original hole. The Hydrangea has been planted for a little over two years. The plant has never flowered. I wanted to change the location as Hydrangea can be finicky about the acidity in the soil.

My goal is to move this shrub into a more sunny location with a little bit different acid composition in the ground. The fall leaves have been removed and you can see the outlining of the hole. Take your shovel and loosen the dirt all the way around the shrub. Continue digging around until you can feel the underneath of the plant.















Sometimes at this point, I will get on my hands and knees to see if I can find the main or mother root. Take your shovel and gently lift the entire ball of the shrub.

You can see the mother root here. Notice how it is not large on the Hydrangea. This is an indication that the roots haven't correctly grown and spread below the original ball of the shrub. You can also see how the ball of the shrub is still in tact, so the roots are healthy. This shrub originally came out of a three gallon container.















Get your new hole ready for the shrub. When transplanting a plant, do the old hole and the new one together. A good tip is to dig around and lift the shrub out. Go ahead now and dig your new hole as you will know what width and depth to do.

I recommend to my clients using organic mushroom compost. This is a great organic fertilizer that will last up to a year. It usually comes in forty pound bags. As you can see, I covered the base of the hole. Mix it in well with your soil. A little warning tip, mushroom compost doesn't have a very good aroma, but your plants will love it!















Here a couple of important tips for you when filling the hole. Set your shrub into the new hole. Your goal is to have the top of the base of the shrub at ground level or at the most one to two inches above the ground.

Never put any plant below the ground surface. If you do, the hole will be acting like a bowl and this came damage your shrub as well as potentially kill it.

Add your dirt evenly around the outside edges of the shrub. By doing this you will eliminate any possible air pockets from getting trapped in the hole.

The second picture is of the Hydrangea in its new hole. Notice how the dirt is mounded a little but not up against the base of the shrub.

The final step we will do is put mulch or pine straw around the shrub. This is especially good for the colder months. Hydrangeas die back in cooler climates and fall is definitely the best time to transplant this particular shrub.

Doing any type of shrub or tree requires these simple steps.

The above are really easy steps in transplanting most trees and shrubs.

Take the time to do a little research on the depth of the root system with the plant you may be thinking of moving to another location.

Besides transplanting here are some proper steps in pruning trees or shrubs.

Some trees and shrubs can be in the ground for only a year or two and have already developed a massive and deep root system.

This makes it almost impossible to transplant. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding moving a specific plant specimen to a new location.