How to move mature plants to a new location
In many of my previous columns I tried to provide readers with concepts of preventive maintenance and looking into the future of the landscape. However, something I run into a lot is where people already have a well established yard that has overgrown itself. In some cases to where maintenance will not be enough to restore the yard.
Often there’s plenty of plant material in an existing landscape that has reproduced itself so much that it might be too thick in that area. Ferns, cast iron plants, smaller palms are just a few of these.
Rather than just throwing out this plant material, much of it can be transplanted to fill out empty areas. Or maybe there’s an existing shrub in an area that doesn’t make sense to you. These can almost always be transplanted to a better location as well. In agriculture and gardening, transplanting or replanting is the technique of moving a plant from one location to another.
As always, decide if the new location will be a good spot for the plant to be moved, taking in consideration of sunlight, soil, etc. Have your new hole dug prior to digging up the plant, making sure it will be wide and deep enough. It’s key to try to create as big of a rootball as possible. Try digging about 2-3 feet away from the trunk in a circle, (this will vary depending on the size of the plant.)
You will most likely have to cut some of the roots to get the plant out. Make sure you do clean cuts. I usually have a tarp or wheelbarrow nearby to set the plant on immediately. Try to keep as much dirt on the root ball as possible; don’t knock it off. The shock of being dug up is extreme, so make the time moving the plant minimal. Get it in the ground!
At the new location, make sure you set the plant in at the right depth and tamp dirt in well around the plant, watering it in several times to flush air pockets out of the hole. I usually make a ring out of dirt a few feet from the trunk to hold water in better. Do not mound up dirt or mulch on the trunk, this will suffocate the plant.
The watering is probably the most crucial part. Make sure it doesn’t get dried out – the roots will need water! This process will take days, depending on the plant.
Transplanting is a great way to save money on plant material, and it also minimizes waste. Until next time, Aloha!
Charlie Stonecypher is the owner/operator of Suncoast Irrigation and Landscaping. They help people (mostly residential) troubleshoot their landscape and outdoor areas, and specialize in products that work smart without wasting resources. Contact Charlie at 843-327-8642 or suncoastirrigation@gmail.com.
