Transplanting Tips for Landscaping

Transplanting is always tricky, but sometimes it is necessary. Sometimes you need to move a plant for its health. Sometimes we have seedlings (trees and bushes) that pop up in the wrong place and we want to transplant them to a different location. Whatever the reason, sometimes transplanting just needs to be done.

Different plants are best transplanted at different times of year, so no 'one-size-fits-all' strategy is possible. But there are some general guidelines to go along with specific recommendations.

Try to make sure the plant activity is at a minimum before undertaking to transplant it. Flowers in the full bloom of Spring or Summer are performing a needed function for the plant at the same time they supply you with beautiful color. Try to avoid interrupting that natural growth cycle.

Many perennials, for example, do better when transplanted in late Summer. August and early September (in the Northern Hemisphere) are the best months for digging up, dividing and re-planting. But these periods can also still be quite hot, so take care.

Useful tip: Be sure to water the plants well the day before planting to let them soak up plenty of moisture.

Carefully remove the soil from the surface around the plant, in a circle about one foot in diameter. Then, slant down and repeat the procedure until you have cleared earth away from the roots.

Take precautions not to cut through the roots with your trowel as you remove the dirt. For some perennials it is a good idea to tie them gently to a slender stake during the procedure to prevent them falling over or cracking.

Once you have cleared the soil away from the roots, gently lift the plant from the base while balancing the top if necessary. You want to remove the plant in one smooth motion all at once.

Avoid stressing the central portions. Then, shake the base gently and wash away any large clumps of soil still stuck to the roots.

Re-plant in a similar sized hole that has been watered. Allow the water to settle before inserting the new plant. Place it, then fill with earth and the appropriate amount of fertilizer for your type of plant. Depending on the type of plant, this can be accomplished with compost, manure-based fertilizer or pellets mixed into the soil.

Be sure to place the plant at the same depth as it was removed from. If some portion of the roots for that plant were above or near the surface, that's the right level to place the transplanted plant at. Burying them too deep makes it difficult for some to get the right amount of air, heat and moisture.

Avoid performing the procedure in direct sunlight. Wait until the evening hours, or carry it out early in the morning, unless the day is very overcast. It's also best, both for you and the plant, to avoid transplanting when the temperature is very high.

Be sure to water the transplanted plant well after you have it firmly in place.

Different plants, such as vegetables, will do better by transplanting at different times of the year. Find out which is best for your particular one before transplanting. Transplanting is stressful for almost every growing plant, so check the details to maximize the chances of recovery.