Transplanting Plants
Transplanting plants gives you the freedom to achieve the garden you've always dreamed of having. Successful transplanting requires good technique and a little patience.
The time to transplant
Plants must be transplanted during the time that they are dormant to ensure a safe transplant. The dormant time for plants is generally between autumn's initial hard freeze until the point that new growth begins in the spring. During their period of dormancy, plants are in essence, asleep; you can safely transplant it any time during the dormant phase as long as the soil is not frozen. However, if you were to transplant a plant during a time that it shows signs of new growth, the plant would likely become distressed and eventually die.
Disrupting the root system
Transplanting can sever a substantial portion of the root system. This is dangerously shocking to a plant that isn't dormant. However, this is generally only true of plants growing in the ground. A container plant that you would like to put somewhere else 'in non-frozen ground' can be transplanted any time as long as you can carefully remove it from the container without severing roots.
Removing the plant
You might consider marking the plant on its north side. When placing the plant in its new location, make sure that this marking is facing north. This will help the plant adapt to its new location. Carefully dig around the root ball of the plant, digging down and around deeply enough not to injure the plant (around 10 inches deep for many plants). Gently tip the plant to one side and lift it from the ground. Plants are easier to move if you gently remove some excess soil, though evergreen plants recover easier when you allow the root system to retain plenty of soil coverage.
Replanting
The hole for replanting should be about 50% wider than the root system. One common mistake is a hole that is too deep for the transplanted plant; in general, the root collar should not be reburied more than an inch below the soil surface to ensure that the roots receive enough oxygen. Position the plant in the center of the hole and begin adding soil around the base. Continue to fill the hole, stopping periodically to lightly pack the soil, ensuring the plant is properly supported. If the root system is large, add water to the hole when it is about halfway filled. When the hole is filled and lightly packed, water the plant thoroughly. Plants in well-drained, sandy soil will need more water than plants in clay-filled soil.
Transplanting correctly will make all the difference in the success of your garden.
The time to transplant
Plants must be transplanted during the time that they are dormant to ensure a safe transplant. The dormant time for plants is generally between autumn's initial hard freeze until the point that new growth begins in the spring. During their period of dormancy, plants are in essence, asleep; you can safely transplant it any time during the dormant phase as long as the soil is not frozen. However, if you were to transplant a plant during a time that it shows signs of new growth, the plant would likely become distressed and eventually die.
Disrupting the root system
Transplanting can sever a substantial portion of the root system. This is dangerously shocking to a plant that isn't dormant. However, this is generally only true of plants growing in the ground. A container plant that you would like to put somewhere else 'in non-frozen ground' can be transplanted any time as long as you can carefully remove it from the container without severing roots.
Removing the plant
You might consider marking the plant on its north side. When placing the plant in its new location, make sure that this marking is facing north. This will help the plant adapt to its new location. Carefully dig around the root ball of the plant, digging down and around deeply enough not to injure the plant (around 10 inches deep for many plants). Gently tip the plant to one side and lift it from the ground. Plants are easier to move if you gently remove some excess soil, though evergreen plants recover easier when you allow the root system to retain plenty of soil coverage.
Replanting
The hole for replanting should be about 50% wider than the root system. One common mistake is a hole that is too deep for the transplanted plant; in general, the root collar should not be reburied more than an inch below the soil surface to ensure that the roots receive enough oxygen. Position the plant in the center of the hole and begin adding soil around the base. Continue to fill the hole, stopping periodically to lightly pack the soil, ensuring the plant is properly supported. If the root system is large, add water to the hole when it is about halfway filled. When the hole is filled and lightly packed, water the plant thoroughly. Plants in well-drained, sandy soil will need more water than plants in clay-filled soil.
Transplanting correctly will make all the difference in the success of your garden.
