Confused about transplanting shrubs

2 years ago

I get conflicting advice anout the timing of fall transplants. Is it better to do it now, when temperatures have cooled and plants have time to grow roots, or in early November, when they’ve gone into dormancy but the ground isnt frozen? I’m in New York 6b, and the shrubs invlude hydrangeas, amsonia, baptisia, spireas and roses.

And is the timing of shrub transplanting the same as perennials and trees? i have always treated fall as a single window but now wonder if I’m wrong.

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Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
in ground freeze areas ... you have a period of total and complete dormancy ... so you can transplant MOST things at either the beginning of such.. or just before spring thaw ...

and you have a lot of leeway.. because you know the plant is dormant ...

there are some few exceptions .. like oaks which prefer spring ...

and i bet most of your confusion is due to WWW articles that dont mention where the author is.. and most of them.. those peeps dont even know what ground freeze is ... i had a lot of trouble way back when.. trying to incorporate info from the south or west coast or PNW ..... into my MI garden.. those peeps may as well be on mars.. lol ... i was probably better off before the WWW when i just did what i wanted.. and didnt worry about it.. sometimes you win.. sometimes you dont.. whatever.. a new spot for a new plant ....

of those you list.. i would think they all could be moved in fall .. but since i used to get my bare root roses mail order in spring... i would probably default on those until spring ...

and of course.. with ground freeze.. you have to insure you take a big enough gob of soil so they dont heave in winter... and mulch them heavily ... and make sure there is no drought in late fall .. rare but possible...

i dont know anything about amsonia .. so you figure that one out ... but it is a perennial.. and i cant think of a single perennial i wouldnt move in fall in my MI ...

ken
kitasei2 thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
Since fall is a period of major root extension on any woody plant, fall is an ideal time to plant or transplant just about any kind of tree or shrub. While air temps cool, soil temps remain warm well into late fall and rain is more plentiful, so fall planted woodies establish faster than those that are planted in spring.

Just a note that this is well before any ground freeze....which typically happens much later into winter after air temps consistently drop below freezing.

I also agree that most - not all - perennials can be planted/transplanted in fall as well.
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perhaps you are confusing a transplant.. with an 'established' shrub ... established shrubs... older then 3 years in situ ... usually need little or no water except in extreme drought ... as mine are right now.. with drooping leaves ... transplants.. rely on you for a supreme 'culture' of nice damp [as compared to wet] soil .. with a nice mulch to temper wild swings .. as to how often you need to water is dependent on your soil.. and how water moves thru it.. short of digging small holes or inserting your finger and actually finding out how yoru watering protocol is performing ... there is no way for us to tell you how long you have to water .. to get water down into the entire root mass of the transplant ... i might guess that your watering is superficial .. and though you might be wetting the plant .... or the soil surface.. you were previously not getting enough water.. down into the root mass .. water as you will.. then dig a small hole.. and find out what you accomplished ... good luck ken
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kitasei2
Original Author
2 years ago
Ok, so i am still unsure what youre telling me. In downstate NY, the ground freezes in December. it is cool now. Fall goes from labor day til thanksgiving . Are you saying that anytime in that three month window is equally good?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
I consider October to be a prime planting month :-) September is often still too warm and November starts to be too wet and with more storms. So my choice would be not too early but also not too late.

fwiw, we can plant all winter long here - no ground freeze at all - but I still focus major planting or transplanting jobs in October.
kitasei2 thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

Confused about transplanting shrubs

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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