How to move plants to a new location
Home & Garden • Landscaping
Digging up plants and moving them to another location often strikes fear in the hearts and minds of gardeners. But there's really nothing to fear, says master gardener Paul James. He focuses on woody plants, specifically deciduous shrubs and small trees. Winter, when the plant is dormant, is the best time for moving. "Growth at this stage is at a virtual standstill which means the risk of transplant shock is next to nothing," he says. "If you were to wait until the plants leaf out and are actively growing, the risk of transplant shock goes way up. And that means the plants may not survive the process." James' favorite time to move woody plants is late winter or early spring, just as the buds begin to swell. The swelling buds are the first sign of growth on the upper portion of the plant, and in another week or so, the roots will begin to grow as well.
