Transplanting Plants

Whether working with front or backyard plants, you might find yourself with an abundance of a certain kind that you want to move.

Some plants do extremely well being moved and others will die. Therefore, it is important to understand the right way of transplanting plants so they will grow healthy and strong.

When it comes to transplanting plants, the best time of year is during the spring, while the plants, trees, or shrubs are still dormant. If the plant has already come out of winter hibernation, trying to transplant them can work but it puts a tremendous stress on the plants, which is why they will usually die is moved too late in the year.

Front and Backyard Plants

Remember, front and backyard plants will become dormant during the fall when the weather goes through a hard freeze. Perennials will stay dormant in the ground until spring. You want to make sure the leaves are not open and out, a sign that transplanting plants is too late. However, if there are green and swollen buds that have not changes into actual leaves, then transplanting is fine.

One of the most important tips associated with transplanting plants if to make sure you have the new location prepared before you dig the plants, shrubs, or trees up. The longer the plants are out of the ground without being replanted the more chance of them dying. Therefore, with the soil ready to receive the new front or backyard plants, you then look at the roots to make sure there are no air pockets. Instead, dig up the plants to be moved so you actually take the roots with a ball of dirt to move to the new hole.

With transplanting plants, a good rule to follow is that for every one inch of stem caliper, you need about 12 inches of root ball. While some people worry about cutting some of the roots, it will not hurt. Just be sure the roots are not cut shorter than the one inch of stem caliper to 12 inches of root ball guideline. If you do this, you will rejuvenate the plant with what is called pruning of the roots.

Once you have the front or backyard plants’ rots cut, lateral roots will grow. These new roots are extremely fibrous, which makes them capable of absorbing nutrients and water quite well. Once the plant is in the ground in the new location, you will find the new lateral roots actually product a much healthier and stronger plant.

Rock Plants

Now, if you want to consider rock plants for transplanting, you may find that you have to move the rocks to get enough or the root so the existing and cut plant to move is not damaged. Sometimes, rock plants will wrap the root around the rock or deep underneath so you will need to make sure you can gain proper access to get enough of the root or consider some other types of front or backyard plants to transplant.