Question
I have several 4' x 4' evergreen bushes that i would like to dig up and transplant to another area of the yard. What would be the easiest way to dig them up and what time of year would be the best time to do this? What other advice can you offer in tackling this job?

Answer
Hello Max

Thank you for your question.

4'x 4' - that's pretty big!  There really is no easy way to dig up big shrubs - it's down to hard work and the help of a couple of 'volunteers'!  ( I find bribery usually helps).  Plus, you'll need a tarpaulin or large piece of hessian.

So - here's the technique:


1. Identify where the bush is going to go and dig a planting hole about 2' across and about 18" deep.  Loosen the soil in the bottom of the hole and mix in some all purpose granular fertilizer.  Mix a little of the same fertilizer into the soil you've taken out of the hole.

2. At the extent of the foliage on the shrub being moved dig a trench about 18" deep then start to scrape away the soil from between the roots between the trench and the shrub with a garden fork.  This will help to reduce the weight of the plant.  Try not to damage the fibrous roots you come across - these are the feeder roots and the plant absolutely needs them.

3.  When you've got as much of the soil as you can away from the now exposed roots, start to undercut the rootball with a garden spade - you will be cutting through some pretty large roots, (these are the anchor roots that keep the plant secure in the ground), and you may find that a pruning saw is useful for cutting the bigger ones.

4. Once the plant is free, roll up the tarp or hessian by about 1/2 - tilt the shrub to one side and push the rolled up part of the tarp as far under the shrub as you can.

5. Push the shrub back to way it came and a little more until you can grab a hold of the tarp and pull is out to the other side of the shrub.

6. Tilt the shrub into an upright position - it should be more or less in the center of the tarp.

7. This is where your volunteers come in - each grab of piece of the tarp and lift or pull the shrub out of its hole and over to its new position.

8. Do the moving, shrub tilting thing in reverse!

9. When you are happy with the position of the shrub start back-filling it with the soil you dug out of the hole, firming the soil down with your heel every now and then - not too hard, just enough to firm it in.

10. When you have completely filled the hole and given the shrub a final firming in, give it a really good watering in - 2 or 3 gallons.

11. Repeat with the other shrubs!

This could take several days, depending on the number of shrubs you want to move.  I told you this was going to be hard work (I've done it, so I know!!)

Keep a very close eye on the plants and water then again if they appear to be flagging - there will be some transplant shock, but given some encouragement they should come through OK.

Oh yes - the fall is the best time to transplant, as even evergreen shrubs go into a dormant phase then and they wont suffer as badly as they would if they were moved in the growing phase.

Good luck!!