WYSTERIA...can we move it???

Question

hi.. my mum has a wysteria plant which is too big for her garden! will it be ok to dig it up and move as she said we could have it! or will this kill it??? thanks you talented gardeners! x

Answer 1

ACTUALLY YOU CAN'T KILL IT !! I'VE MOVED MINE MANY TIMES, I CUT MINE BACK EACH YEAR AFTER IT BLOOMS. I'VE HEARD IT CALLED A PAIN IN THE BUTT VINE BECAUSE IT WILL OVERTAKE ABOUT ANYTHING IN IT'S PATH. SO MOVE IT AND TRIM IT, IT'LL BE OKAY.

Answer 2

It's too late now, unless you live in Southern Hemisphere. Move wisteria in winter when plant is dormant. Of course you'll have to cut it back.....a lot! I depends on how your mother has trained it as to how to cut it back.......if I said something like "cut back to 6-8 feet," would that fit your situation?

Of course the root ball should be as big as you can handle. Most people can't handle more than a 18" root ball without special training in wrapping, transport and replanting.

Even then the plant will take years to recover and start blooming again.

Other option is to cut the plant back in it's present site, leaving it in your mother's yard. If it hasn't been properly pruned over the years, it's time to start. You can probably whittle it back to something less monsterous over several years.