When is the best time for transplanting in Zone 5?

Question

I have a young hydrangea that I want to move to a different location. When would be the best time to do this? Thanks!

Answer 1

Move as soon as the gound has thawed and before the shrub leafs out (When dormant).

Tips:

1. Cut the roots with a deep spade. In essence you will be cutting an inverted cone shape under the plants. Try to get as much root and soil as possible but not so much that you cannot easliy move the plant.

2. Dig a hole roughly the same size and shape as the root ball of the Hydrangea.

3. place Hydrangea into the new hole. Firm the soil with your foot so you have good contact between the root ball and the new surrounding soil. Water to eliminate any air pockets.

4. Some Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla and Hydrnagea serrata) should not be pruned in the spring. If you do you have to wait a year to get blooms.

General rule - If the flowers are blue or pink do not prune until after they flower. If the flowers are white, the odds are better the plant can be pruned in the spring.

Answer 2

As soon as the soil can be worked. It's best to move it while it is still dormant. That will lessen the transplant shock, as it will not lose as much water as it would after it has leafed out. If the snow is gone, and you can get a shovel in the ground - you're good to go.

Water it with a little root stimulator. Hold off on the general fertilizer. You want it to put it's initial growth energy into re-establishing the roots, rather than putting out new top growth.

You might also prune it back a bit to make the move eaiser (if it needs it). It should be mostly recovered by the time it wants to flower. If you transplant later in the spring - it may have to split its energy bwteen re-growing feeder roots, and producing flowers.

Answer 3

Most shrubs can be transplanted when the ground is not frozen. It is better to transplant it when it is dormant. Also u might prune it back 1/3, that way it gives the plant the energy to get the root system growing and set. But it might cut the buds off for the year. U might want to wait til after it blooms.

Answer 4

May 10, but look ahead in the paper to be sure there isn't an expected nightly low below 32F.