How to move plants – and keep them alive
If you’re wondering how to move plants, remember that deciduous trees and shrubs – those that lose their leaves during winter – are dormant now, so this is the best time to uproot them. Any time during autumn and spring when the branches are bare will minimise the upheaval to them. Evergreens can be moved too, but you are better off waiting until late March for those, when the soil is starting to warm up again.
As a general rule, the younger the plant, the better chance it has of being moved successfully. Moving mature and well-established plants is more difficult and you run a higher risk of them not surviving the operation. If they’re very old anyway, it may be better to cut your losses and invest in a new plant for the new position.
How to move plants: dig the new hole before you start lifting your tree or shrub. Photo: Shutterstock
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