How to Transplant Dormant Shrubs
- 1). Find a new location for your shrub and clear the area of debris and weeds. Use a rake to clear away debris such as leaves and twigs, but you may have to weed the yard with your hands. Wear garden gloves to protect your hands while you weed the area.
- 2). Dig a hole large enough to fit the roots of your shrub comfortably. The width of the hole will vary depending on the size of shrub you're transplanting, but the depth should be 1 to 3 feet. Loosen the soil around the hole by stabbing it with your shovel. This allows the roots to spread a little easier when the growing season comes around.
- 3). Prune your shrub down to two-thirds its current height. This will make the shrub easier to transport and handle as well as relieving some of the stress on the plant. The larger the plant, the harder the roots need to work to collect nutrients. The shrub must conserve some of that energy after a transplant.
- 4). Dig into the ground around the shrub. For plants that spread outward instead of up, start digging out the plant halfway between the stem and the end of the shrub branches. For example, if your shrubs branches extend 3 feet from the stem, start digging 1 1/2 feet away from the shrub's stem. For shrubs that grow straight up, dig 1 foot back from the stem for every 2 feet of the shrub's height. For example, start uprooting a 4-foot tall shrub 2 feet from the stem.
- 5). Dig as straight down as possible to sever the roots cleanly. You may need a hacksaw to cut strong roots that the shovel cannot sever. If any broken roots occur, use the saw to give the root a clean cut. Lift the shrub out of the ground after severing the roots.
- 6). Use a wheelbarrow to move the shrub to the transplant location as quickly as possible. The faster you get the shrub back into the ground the better its chances of survival. Place the shrub in the new hole. Keep the roots from tangling or bending as you set the shrub down. Firmly pack the ground with more dirt to support the shrub.
- 7). Water the shrub thoroughly after the transplant. Water helps fight off shock. Continue to water on a regular basis, especially in the growing season.
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