Moving shrubs.

[flippinout]

On both sides of our front porch steps, we had a medium sized shrub that was more or less detracting from the looks of the front yard and the shrubs were a real pain to keep clipped and neat looking. So I had them dug up, and moved to the back yard near the dog pen to help with shade for my daughters 2 small dogs.

Digging the shrubs up can be a daunting job even for a man, but if done like I am about to explain, can be done relatively easily even for a woman.

Most shrubs have a relatively small root ball with the main roots only being about as big around as your thumb. For this reason, inserting your shovel about 5 inches from the shrub base, getting the shovel in the ground as far as you can then prying upward with the end of the shovel will begin to break up the root base of the plant.

Continue all around the shrub base in this manner until you have gone completely around the base then continue around again moving further in toward the base of the shrub. This should have broken up most of the root system and a couple of more "pries" should do the trick, enabling you to remove the shrub.

When replanting, be sure not to dig the hole the plant will go in too deep because if too much of the plant is below the soil surface, it can cause the plant to rot and die.

After putting the shrub in its new home, replace the soil around the shrub and water with about a gallon and a half of water. Water these newly planted shrubs every other day in this manner for 1 week and they should be good to go.

[flip_it_fast]

I have several shrubs at my home that I would like to move to another location also. I haven't done so yet because I really don't know that much about shrubs (I am a flower gal) and have been worried about harming them. Even though I am not that knowlegable about them, I still like them and don't want them to die from transplanting them improperly. Is there a certain time of year that is best for doing this as there is for so many plants? Is it different for different types of shrubs? Or, is it the same for all? Again, I am clueless when it comes to shrubs, if you know, please reply.

[flippinout]

I have to admit that I never move things when its the proper time to do so and especially when it comes to shrubs as the darned things seem to have 9 lives.

I watered the ground around them to soften the earth and make digging easier, then transplanted them and watered them again with about a gallon and a half of water.

These shrubs will do just fine, and, if it hadnt rained good today, I would have watered them every other day for a week to make sure they got settled in okay.

So if you want to move them now, move them. They should be alright but if not you can always replace them.

[homealone]

Now is a good time to move your shrubs. By doing this now, they will have plenty of time to re-root themselves in their new place in your yard. This goes for pretty much all shrub types. Watering them just as Flippinout mentioned. This will help them in re-rooting faster, and help them get settled into their new home.
It is also suggested that you dont attempt to trim your newly moved shrubs for about one month. If you have just trimmed them, then wait about a week before moving them. Hope this helps.

[flippinout]

Moving them from the front yard had a lot to do with the fact that I just didnt have time to trim them, now they are planted along the dogs enclosure to provide them with more shade.

Plus, this way I wont have to worry about trimming them at all or very little as the bigger they get the more shade they provide.

[flippinout]

Well, its been a couple of weeks since the shrubs were dug up in front of our house and moved to the back yard.

They are thriving and look great. And where they are now, I wont have to worry about trimming them. They can grow to their hearts content.

The main thing that you have to do though when moving them is to give them plenty of water when they are first put in the ground then water them every other day for a week and they will be well on their way.

[flip_it_fast]

I haven't gotten around to moving mine yet. I just haven't had time. I not only want to move them but seperate them also and edge my front lawn with them for a little more privacy. One of these days I will get to it and let ya know how it went.

Way to go on getting yours done successfully!