However, most evergreen shrubs and trees should only be moved when their roots are active; early October or March is best. All agree that late spring and early fall are the best times to move bushes. “The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The sun is too intense and the heat can be relentless. If possible, shield the new transplant from direct sunlight for 3 to 5 days. You want the soil around the. The best time to move most plants is in the late fall or early spring. This probably sounds like too much water, but you would be surprised how much water can evaporate during the planting process. Treat them as you would any other new planting and keep them watered if Mother Nature does not. Never leave the roots exposed to sun, heat or wind. Apart from large mature trees and shrubs there are many plants that can be successfully transplanted from one location to another, even if they have rooted and established in a particular position over a number of years. For asparagus, the best time would be in mid-spring, but if you don’t have to move it right now it would be better to wait. Bulbs, Corms, Tubers & Rhizomatous Plants. Warm weather and strong winds are your enemy so, if your garden needs a mini makeover, now is a great time to transform it by transplanting. You can also move plants on cool days in early spring. If you must do it dig the hole you are going to move it to first. Can you transplant hostas anytime? 1. Planting and transplanting are two garden tasks that have a big effect on how well your plants grow. When deciding what to grow, you have many factors to consider, including growing conditions and your personal food preferences. When moving the plant, use hessian sacking or an old sheet, the idea being to keep the rootball stable and prevent it falling away from the roots during the move. Water the plant, the day before if you think about it. 5. The timing to move perennials is pretty easy. Moving a plant, however, will always knock it back a bit. If possible, it’s best to move perennials during the early spring and fall when temperatures are not overly warm. The rootball is now complete, a term used to describe the big lump of soil that surrounds the roots now that you have cut all around and under the shrub with your spade. With a bit of extra care, you can successfully transplant garden plants at any time of the year. It’s always a little bit risky to move your garden. Caution. This garden planning guide addresses those topics and more.) How to Transplant or Move Lavender Maybe you planted your Lavender in the shade or the plant has become too large for where it is planted. If you're a gardener who has to move house and wants to take the garden too, winter is the time to do it because this is the best time to move plants. Moving plants is best done in autumn because water uptake through the roots is minimal due to a slow down in growth rate, this combined with reduced sunlight and shorter, cooler days. However, if the season has been … If you live in a cooler climate November is the best time of year simply because the bush is now dormant but the ground is not frozen. The best time to transplant is late winter or early spring whlie they are dormant, after they have been pruned and before they put on new growth. Allow the water to settle the soil around the roots and then finish filling the hole. By: Beverly Nation 21 July, 2017. Once the cuttings are rooted you can sharpen your surgical spade and begin the transplant. Water the hole before you place the transplant into it. Plants are temperamental in even the best of circumstances, and abrupt changes in light, temperature, or other conditions can be hard on them. Let the water settle things rather than stomping with your foot. Carefully lower it into the new hole and slide the hessian or sheet out from under it. So, if you have previously planted in the wrong place go ahead and have a go at a self-move. Also, at this time, the sun does not shine as much as in summer, and air humidity is higher. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, Water the garden plants to be dug and/or transplanted the day before you plan to lift them. Move yucca plants in the fall when temperatures are mild for best transplanting success. The new planting hole at the new location should already have been dug. When an otherwise good plant begins to under-perform. (Photo by Walters Gardens, Inc.) Designing a garden with plants that move. If so, I’d like to help. If you live in a warmer climate where your ground never freezes over you can wait until December through February to transplant. In my case, I only transplant things when there's something new that needs an already occupied spot in the garden - and there's usually a conflict between the health and happiness of the new plant and the one being evicted. 1  Summer is never the best time to move or transplant garden plants. Experts agree that fall is one of the best times for transplanting, but spring is also considered good. But what Asarum said trumps this - when the spirit moves you, and you have time for "after care" is the best time to move things. Do not To do in December. However, sometimes you have no choice … The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Job complete, no chance! But generally they will recover especially if you take as much of the root ball as possible with it. The soil is also still relatively warm, encouraging the plant to make some new root growth before the winter in it’s cosy new home. At this time, the ground already warm, and the roots will grow faster. Planting and Transplanting Tree. Once this is done, you can begin to manoeuvre the spade under the plant and begin undercutting through any root resistance. Place the transplant into the hole, fill it halfway with soil and then water again. Fall and spring are the best times to dig up, divide and move plants around in your yard A small plant with a good big root ball can sometimes be moved successfully in summer but by the time you have tried to see if its successful it may be too late! But just like it's best to gradually move them outdoors in spring to avoid problems like sunburn, it's also important to give your plants a little extra care before you transition them back to indoor life. These tips are just to give your efforts an extra advantage. Transplants may need watering every day, if not more. Depending on the weather and the plant, you may need to water twice a day until it becomes established.