I originally wrote these transplanting tips for our Backyard Growers but it really is important.
I actually wrote this in response to another thread about Japanese Maples but I want it to be a stand-alone thread because really is THAT important.
Timing timing timing timing timing.
Make sure you are doing the right thing at the right time of the year and make yourself a written schedule of what you need to do and when it needs to be done. Time flies! With that said you have to prioritize everything so as to not miss a window of opportunity to do something.
Regarding root-bound plants, in this case, we were talking about root bound Japanese Maples. If they are severely root bound you do need to disturb and possibly cut some of the roots. Since you already this they are probably going to be fine. However, when you have to start cutting the roots vertical to break that girdling habit you have to think about how much you are going to shock the plant.
Cutting the roots is akin to digging a plant out of the ground. It can be a devastating thing for the plant. So when that kind of “surgery” needs to be done, I would much rather see it done after the plant has gone dormant. That way you can cut away with confidence that the plant won’t feel a thing.
It’s really like surgery on a human. Serious injury when a human is awake causes severe shock. However, when sedated and put into a deep sleep (dormancy for humans) the same type of injuries (surgery) can be inflicted without the patient going into shock.
And that’s why I always say, timing is everything in this business.
If you have plants in a grow bed that have to come out, dig them in the early spring and get them all dug before they leaf out. Once they put on leaves, it’s game over until mid-November.
If you have plants that have rooted through the pot into the ground, move them and trim off those roots in early spring as well. Doing so during the growing season can shock the plant depending on how many and how large the roots are. But I have had plants wilt down because I moved the pot during the growing season and broke a lot of roots in the process.
Good info Mike. Even here in southern CA where it won’t freeze, deciduous plants do “hibernate” and now I know to wait for that. Re: evergreens like citrus, I had mixed luck transplanting mature citrus in the Phoenix area in January. I lost the ones when the ball broke tearing off a lot of roots. Got to respect that root ball even in the best conditions.
Thanks for this Mike.
I’m assuming that Re-potting would fall in the category of Planting rather than Trans-planting; ie. it’s ok to do any time of year.
Mike,
That’s true, but when re-potting it’s good to disturb the roots a bit, but if the plant is not dormant you have to be more gentle about disturbing those roots.
Thanks Mike!
Hello mike
Have you ever considered making a calendar which would show each month when is the ideal time to do various projects. It would be helpful to have a reminder each month as to what I should be doing.
Everything from transplanting, grafting, air layering, and any other interesting projects.
Tom,
I have this; http://freeplants.com/doingnow.htm
So, if transplanting seasons starts with a good hard freeze, and ends when the spring leaves come out, how do you dig…? the ground is frozen all that time, isn’t it? thank you!
Diane,
Absolutely not. After the first good hard freeze we then have Indian summer. Usually after that freeze we have several weeks before the ground freezes.
If you go to 1:16 in the video, Mike says you want to transplant during the season when the plant is NOT dormant. I think this is a mistake!
Art,
If that’s what I said, it’s a mistake. Transplanting is always best when plants are dormant. Planting is fine anytime, but transplanting is really a winter sport.
Mike – I have a huge rhododendron bush and am going to take hardwood cuttings next month. I have a few questions, please:
1 – When I stick hardwood cuttings in the ground, how far apart should I space them? If they grow at all, I’d really like to leave them alone and dig them up to transplant later, but that way I wouldn’t be able to stick very many cuttings. If I space the cuttings about an inch apart, they’d be too crowded to grow in place, but would I have to wait until November of next year to dig them up and transplant them further apart?
2 – If I do transplant them in November of next year,, how long can I leave them in pots until I transplant them and do I just leave the pots in the ground until then?
3 – I also have about a dozen little rhodies growing around the mother plant that I’d like to transplant next month also. I assume the wind blew the seeds into the right places for them to grow. Does this mean they would be copies of the mother plant exactly or are cuttings the only way to get exact copies of the mother plant?
Thanks very much for any info you have the time to provide. Also thank you for all the valuable information you so generously share with us all!
Sheila,
1 – When I stick hardwood cuttings in the ground, how far apart should I space them? If they grow at all, I’d really like to leave them alone and dig them up to transplant later, but that way I wouldn’t be able to stick very many cuttings. If I space the cuttings about an inch apart, they’d be too crowded to grow in place, but would I have to wait until November of next year to dig them up and transplant them further apart?
Rhododendrons are tricky to root and normally will only root as hardwoods if you can use bottom heat to warm the root zone to 70 degrees F. while keeping the tops cool. At one inch a part you could move them once rooted at just about any time of the year as long as you don’t leave them so long they get rooted into the soil below the bed.
2 – If I do transplant them in November of next year,, how long can I leave them in pots until I transplant them and do I just leave the pots in the ground until then? I’d put them in a grow bed and leave them for about 3 years, not in pots.
3 – I also have about a dozen little rhodies growing around the mother plant that I’d like to transplant next month also. I assume the wind blew the seeds into the right places for them to grow. Does this mean they would be copies of the mother plant exactly or are cuttings the only way to get exact copies of the mother plant?
These seedlings will not be clones of the parent plants, simply a generic rhododedron, probably a pale lavender in color.
Mike – Thanks very much for answering all my questions. I didn’t know rhododendrons were so hard to grow, but I think I’ll give it a try.
I didn’t know I could transplant seedlings any time of the year. I thought transplanting plants only when they’re dormant included seedlings.
Again, thanks very much for all the information you provide us with. . .
You’re welcome.
When do you transplant a hydrangea from a pot into the ground? Got it for Mother’s Day but couldn’t plant it because I was having a new roof & siding put on my house. Good thing I didn’t, because they trampled everything that was there!! Is the north side of house where it would get a little morning sun a good place??
Also, when is the best time to take a chunk of a decorative grass(like pompass grass?) & transplant it to a different location?
Please help………..
Deane,
Transplant the hydrangea as soon as possible. The grass would be better if you waited until early spring. Morning sun would be good. But more sun might be better.
Thank you, Mike!!!
My mother in law has a Mountain Laurel, she needs it moved out of her yard. It is about a year old. When is the best time to transplant to my yard about 25 miles away. We are in Zone 5. Also some pointers on how to do this without hurting the bush. It is so beautiful
Thanks for your great advise,
Patricia
Patricia,
The ideal time would be the week of Thanksgiving. Just dig around the plant, cutting a few roots as fine, the plant will be dormant. see this http://freeplants.com/how_to_ball_and_burlap_dig_plant.htm
Hi Mike!
Here it is, October 4th 2017 and am just seeing this video. GREAT advice, by the way. 🙂 I’ve got a question or 2 or 3; depends how I phrase it. Last year, my hubby and I went to a neighbor’s house and gathered some Mimosa seed pods. You do know the Mimosa, correct? The tree has very soft, pink and a VERY pleasant smell to them. Mmmmmm. I LOVE them!
OK. I planted the seeds in a few pots, they actually grew, then when Spring came, they were dead. Did I do something wrong?
This year, in a different pot, the seeds that I planted last year, came up this Spring. I’d like to know if there’s a way to keep them from getting killed off over the winter? I live in NW North Carolina and 2/10th’s of a mile from the TN border, so I’m not sure what zone I’m in.
I really DO love these trees, but so far, no luck with growing them to plant.
Have a beautiful day and hope you’re enjoying the weather as much as I am! 🙂
PS: I just now remembered that I have no less than 100 Rose of Sharon plants that have rooted to the ground while I was in the hospital. Here at home, I had to have extensive therapy and wasn’t able to do anything with my garden. I asked hubby to help with very little. So, from 2 bushes, there are all of these bushes coming up and some have really rooted themselves that I can’t pull them out. Ya “think” maybe I should just cut them down? If I was in better health, I’d try to plant them elsewhere. So sad to see them go if I had to cut them. Pretty flowers as well.
Thank you Mike.
Take care
Sharon
Sharon,
I’d take those Mimossa plants and bury the pot in the ground in a protected area. They should grow in your zone. Maybe just plant the seeds in your garden next time and let them get larger before moving. I’d just remove the rose of sharon, they are easy to propagate.
That big blue container you have that you were putting cuttings in? Different video of yours that I also watched yesterday. THAT’S what the seeds grew in and I don’t think I can plant that…lol Mike.
Then just place it in a protected area.
I have a large grapefruit tree that was brushing up against my house. I trimmed the limbs that were touching my house. However, the limbs on the opposite side are very heavy and bear the majority of my grapefruit. I am afraid the limb is going to break. How do I prune it and when? Also, no fruit is growing on the top limbs. Why?
Elaine,
I would prune as needed when the tree is dormant. Getting down to a more manageable size will help the tree.
I am confused. I get the message that you transplant while the plant is dormant but at about 1:20 of the video you clearly state that “you want to transplant in a season that the plant is not dormant”. Was that simply a mistake or did I misunderstand?
Jim,
When I say transplanting I mean digging and moving a plant. You only want to do that when the plant is dormant because you are severing roots. Planting, taking a plant out of a pot and planting can be done at any time.
Hello Mike…love reading all the great information..My father passed away 2 years ago and left 2 large gardenia bushes..can I take cutting from these and if I can what is the best way to contain them.
Tina,
They are tricky, I’d do them in the summer as softwood cuttings, but it won’t hurt to try some now. https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-summertime-plant-propagation-techniques-can-home/
i have a red passion vine and would like to move it. when would be a good time to move it.
Nancy, the ideal time would be after you experience a hard freeze below 30 degrees for a few hours. Then it will be dormant.
Mike, I live in a condo in Bay City, Michigan. tried to grow some Japanese red maple trees using your method. I have about 25 seeds but no sprouting.I took them out of refrigerator on 4-15 and placed them on the table, where it is warm.But still no growth. They are very dry. I followed your directions but don` know what I did wrong. I would appreciate any suggestions you might have.
Mike, dry is not good. During the stratification process the outer coating of the seed needs to absorb moisture and soften. I’d sow them in a flat, water really good, and place the flat in a shady location outside and water as needed. There’s still plenty of time for them to germinate yet this year. Next year just put them directly in the flat after soaking for 24 to 48 hours and put the flat outside covered with screen to keep the chipmunks out. Come spring remove the screen. In other words, you’ll leave them in the flat outside all winter. This method also works well. See this page http://japanesemaplelovers.com/growing-japanese-maples-from-seed/
I enjoy your information so very much. We live in Fernandina Bch., Fl. north of Jacksonville Fl. almmost in Ga. We love the New Jersey big tomatoes (so good) what could I get here in North Fla. that may be like them. Like Big Boy or Beefeater or what??Thank you for the info. I am getting ready to put a Cassia bush in the ground. Wish me luck. Look forward to your reply.
I love your videos. I learn so much from them. I trimmed my Rhododendron bush after receiving one of your videos. I also removed 4 stumps from my yard after your stump removal video; ok I had help with 1 1/2. I put down newspaper and black weed block material on what is to be my garden this year, again after your video. Thanks, Merry Christmas!
When ever your Crepe decides to send out new growth – about 4 – 6″, cut, dip in rooting compound and slip into 4″ pots with soil-less mix – keep out of sun and soon you’ll be rewarded. Works here on L.I.,
What’s the best way to get cuttings from a crape myrtle tree? Do I cut them from the roots, or just cut them from the top or side of the tree?
tks
I want to move some Rose bushes, I live in the middle of NC zone 7 when is a good time? We have had the cold frost past 29 deg but they still have leaves and seem to be making more? Please advise.
i planted a wonderful pomogrant this week.im in zone 7,will it survie the cold here to produce fruit?
Hi Mike,
I purchased a red bud tree about 3-4 weeks ago. I live in Northeast Pennsylvania but closer to Philadelphia, PA than northern PA. The tree stands about 6 feet tall but still has leaves on it. We have had a few frosts and a freeze or two and a snowstorm (which did a lot of damage) but the tree was pulled into the garage so it wouldn’t get damaged. It now a good time to transplant that tree and what kind of window do I have? I look forward to your answer.
Lisa
Oh! sorry! 🙂
Forgot my question! Do I water the forsynthias after I transplant them (now, Nov) I was told I have to water quite a bit. Pls advise me and thank you so much! Shirley
Hi,
Finally, a place 2 ask questions! I have forcythias that are 5 ft tall’ but now I need to transplant them into another area. With this informative article (thank you) now I can feel confident to transplant them. I live in Northern Minn. but these are hardy hybrids and beautiful in the beginning of spring. I have 7 of them; two isolated and 5 in a row. I think it would be pretty in a row. The reason 2 move them is because my husband put stuff in front of them and cannot see them. thank you!
Japanese Maple Trees are not easy to propagate. Commercially they are usually grafted on to a strong growing rootstock because many varieties are not strong growing trees and would produce weak trees if grown on their own rootstock. Secondly, growing trees from seed produces variable results in vigour and form.
To grow Japanese Maple Trees from seed, sow several seeds and select only the most vigorous seedlings. The best time to sow is when the seed is ripe, normally around the middle of autumn. The seed pod will have begun to get slightly crisp. Sow the seeds on the same day as they collected because they do not keep well. Remove the seed from the seed pod and place in a pot of normal potting compost. Cover with about half an inch of compost and water well.
Winter the pots in a cold frame or where they will not suffer from a hard frost. The seedlings should emerge in mid spring the next year. When the roots start to appear at the bottom of the pot, transfer to a larger pot. When the trees are about 12in high they can be transplanted to their final positions.
Most of my maple tree growing knowledge comes from Mike McGroarty at http://www.freeplants.com/ so I am going to credit him for this.
Good luck, Liz S.
can i transplant safely a 12 foot small leaved japanese maple?
I learn so much from you. You explain things so well! Thanks!
Sandra, I’ve had a little success with Flowering Maple by putting the cutting in a pot of soil & placing in the shade even tho the adult plant loves the sun. I didn’t use any hormone but I did this in Spring & come late Fall I put them in my garage as they will not survive the winter cold.
It might be a matter of timing.
I have a Shishigashira about 4ft tall in a 5gal container that is extremely root bound that I got in July, I take it after some root pruning it, now would be the best time to plant it in the ground here in Missouri or wait til closer to spring?
thanks so much for all your incredible videos; this one was excellent
Hi,Can I transplant azaleas and rodadendrums(spelled wrong) in the fall now? also what about a wisteria,it’s a little big,but it’s in a bad place as no one could help me move it? It’s quite busy now,but what to move in front of house,where it’s sunny,is that okay?thank you,mary
OK, here’s my dilemma. I found a plant I really want, researched and found that it is a flowering maple. The flowers look like 1 inch tiny red and yellow Chinese lanterns. I originally though it must be some type of fuchsia. I have taken numerous cuttings and been unsuccessful at rooting any, either in water or in soil with hormones. Does anyone know a better way for success, or know of anyone who has this item for sale? email Dear Sandra at yahoo dot com. Much appreciated.—Sandra
I have some plum trees I planted this past spring, when is the best time to prune them and how should they be pruned?
Thanks
Ed
Hi Mike,
I live in northern California (Bay Area), when is the good time for doing the transplant? Thanks.
I wonder if my living in a different place than you will make a difference on when i do things.
Just moved and planted in the ground some bamboo at the end of October – i was cautioned
from a friend as they said it was to late in the year.
We are Nanaimo b.c. canada
We have a large Crepe Myrtle which has small plants growing from its roots. I want to transplant one which is about 4-5 feet tall. We think we should try to separate it when the plant is dormant. What is the best way to cut the root? saw…ax…We do not know how deep we will have to go to get the root nor how much root will it take for the young plant to live? How deep should we plant the baby plant we are transplanting? Any special soil or fertilizer at this time?
Thank you for any help you can suggest. Your videos are very much appreciated also.
I have to move my lilac bushes. When is a good time to move them? Should I give them fertilizer before replanting them? Thanks for any suggestions. I would appreciate them.
Now is a good time to transplant lilacs, as the leaves are falling, or any time before they leaf out in spring. But you never want to fertilize a newly transplanted plant, until it’s had a chance to recover and start growing again.—-Sandra
When and how can I grow weeping willow trees? I need them in a wet area. I can get cuttings from a friend. Thanks.
You can take large cuttings of weeping willow and just put them into
your damp soil. They will root right there readily. Willow fence posts will root if the soil is kept moist.
OMG, you lucky girl !!!
The plant you desire is about the easiest plant in the world to grow. I have had perfect luck just shoving a long cutting (they can be as big as an inch in diameter) into the ground in a wet area, and they will root right there and take off growing.
If you want visual proof before you plant, just shove cuttings into a bucket or vase of water and watch the roots form, then plant. And guess what? The liquid you just took your willow cuttings out of is now magically able to make other cutting root better….it’s one way they make rooting hormone.—-Sandra
Sandra, can the “rooting hormone” water that the plant rooted in be frozen and retain its properties? Or will freezing spoil it?
I have 2 apple and 1 pear tree I bought from WalMart that are about 9 feet tall. I have kept them alive this summer in their original pots thru this drought we’ve had in Texas. When can I plant them in the ground??? Should I plant them on the north or south side of my house??? When can I prune them??? Should I use a liquid transplant when I do plant them????Thank you for any suggestions.
Karen–
I would say south side, as fruit trees love sun. Fall or very early spring for transplanting. Transplant liquid at regular strength dose is good. No fertilizer until you see they are starting to grow new leaves, signaling they are out of shock and ready to go.–Sandra
Fall is a great time. Potted plants can be planted any time though.