The basics of moving a shrub in your garden

Need to move an established shrub? Perhaps you need to make room for new landscaping or an addition to your home. Whatever the reason, take care to preserve your favourite shrubs.

Move a woody plant when it's dormant, but prepare for the move a few weeks ahead of time.

• Use a sharp spade to cut a circle 45 centimetres from the base of the shrub.
• This severs the lateral roots and encourages growth of shallow feeder roots, which will help the plant readjust quickly.

• Shrubs will recover more quickly from transplanting if you prune back one quarter to one third of the top growth.

The reduced foliage mass loses less moisture and places fewer demands on the roots — plus, it makes a big shrub easier to handle.

• When moving day comes, dig from outside the dripline, digging all the way around the plant.

Don't try to lift the plant right away — keep prying the spade under the roots and rocking the plant away from you until it comes free easily.

To help keep the root ball intact and make it easier to move, wrap it in a tarp or old blanket while it's still in the hole.

• Rock the plant to one side and tuck the fabric in under the roots, then tip it in the opposite direction and pull up the burlap around the root ball.
• Tie it around the trunk or stem with heavy twine.

Water is essential — both to keep the disturbed roots moist until they can take up water from the soil and to eliminate air pockets.

• Soak the base of the relocated plant once a week through the growing season if rainfall is insufficient.
• Let the soil dry slightly between waterings so the roots don't rot. Mulch well to retain moisture.

Following these basic guidelines, you can move a shrub in your garden without compromising its good condition.