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#1
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Transplanting a mature gardenia bush, advice?
I have one in my backyard that's pretty big, about 4-5 ft tall. I'd
like to move it to the front yard where it will get more, and more even, sunlight. Just wondering if anyone has done this successfully, from what I have found on the internet they don't transplant well. I understand the roots spread fairly shallow, but how deep should I dig under for a bush this large? Also, can I prune it back at the same time? Thanks. |
#2
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Transplanting a mature gardenia bush, advice?
On 2006-02-04, meexie wrote:
I have one in my backyard that's pretty big, about 4-5 ft tall. I'd like to move it to the front yard where it will get more, and more even, sunlight. Just wondering if anyone has done this successfully, from what I have found on the internet they don't transplant well. I understand the roots spread fairly shallow, but how deep should I dig under for a bush this large? Also, can I prune it back at the same time? Thanks. The bigger the plant the greater the odds of losing it. You may want to contact a professional. here is some interesting info: Gardenias can be pruned or trimmed at anytime of the year in as far as thinning goes to reshape the shrub. To rejuvenate an older shrub, it can be cut back to about 8 inches from the ground in early spring. As for transplanting, either early to mid-fall once the plant is dormant, or early spring before growth starts are both ok. The choice is yours. The root system needs to fit the leaves on the shrub. The smaller the root ball the more pruning you may need. If it were me I use a long handled narrow trenching shovel. THe blade must only be 6-7 inches on the one I own and it is a longer blade than a normal shovel. I am in favor of getting as much roots as possible since even if you lose the dirt some or all of the roots will survive. With such a shovel the most practical root ball is 2-3 feet and 9 inches deep. I start by going all around the bush one shovel width at a time. YOu will need to angle toward the trunk at maybe a 45 degree angle. The larger the diameter you choose means the more difficult it is to get to the center all the way around. ONe way to get farther is to dig out side the root ball ring with another maybe 6 inches farther out. Soil conditions and roots from trees and other plants affect this. If you get this trench as deep as you can then you can deepen the original cut by most of the depth of the trench. Sometimes a second person can help by lifting the root ball up so you and go deeper as well. Damp clay soil this time of year helps keep the ball intact. If yours is as bushy as ours, then you may have to tie up the limbs to get in close enough. I am not sure I would do any pruning now as youwill lose buds. Maybe some selective pruning. Use burlap to contain the ball with as little breakage. The ball may weigh 50-100 pounds so it is a 2 or 3 person job to get the burlap under it. I would suggest just use the burlap as a sling/streacher to move it unless you are talking miles. Water it well initially. Keep an eye on it and look for wilting and stress as spring and summer progress. YOu may have to prune it if we have a dry hot summer to keep the leaves from giving up more water than the roots can supply. Fortunately i think those glossy leaves help slow the water loss. And over watering will cause root rot. Good luck. Note I have never done this with a gardenia, but I have moved several camelias this way as well as crepe myrtles. I did some severe pruning on the camelia though and screened it from the sun with a piece of lattice.. -- Wes Dukes (wdukes.pobox@com) Swap the . and the @ to email me please. is a garbage address. |
#3
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Transplanting a mature gardenia bush, advice?
Thanks. I also have a couple of Camelias to move, so this has been a
big help. |
#4
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Transplanting a mature gardenia bush, advice?
Please keep us posted on how well it works. I LOVE the gardenia and
would love to have one in our new landscape. |
#5
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Transplanting a mature gardenia bush, advice?
I moved a gardenia in November, and it is doing great. It wasn't large as
yours, only about 3 feet high, but here is how we did it. 1. I used a horticulturist / professional landscaper. He and his helper (it took 2 people) dug about 6-inches out from the foliage spread and used long (12 - 14 inch) spades to dig out the root ball, which we set on a tarp since we were moving it immediately. 2. The transplant hole was dug to the same size + 6 inches out (no deeper) as the "removed from" hole. We then back filled, but left a six inch deep, three inch wide trench around the root ball. The trench was filled with water, then all was covered with cypress mulch. Every other day for two months, I checked the trench for moisture, and filled with water if needed. 3. At transplant, the plant was trimmed back about 1/4 - 1/3 of size. It is now larger than it was before. At the same time, we moved a 6-foot Leyland cypress (they were planted adjacent to each other in the middle of the back yard in a shady area by the previous owners). The leyland isn't doing as well, but it's not dead yet. There is still hope! wrote in message . .. On 2006-02-04, meexie wrote: I have one in my backyard that's pretty big, about 4-5 ft tall. I'd like to move it to the front yard where it will get more, and more even, sunlight. Just wondering if anyone has done this successfully, from what I have found on the internet they don't transplant well. I understand the roots spread fairly shallow, but how deep should I dig under for a bush this large? Also, can I prune it back at the same time? Thanks. The bigger the plant the greater the odds of losing it. You may want to contact a professional. here is some interesting info: Gardenias can be pruned or trimmed at anytime of the year in as far as thinning goes to reshape the shrub. To rejuvenate an older shrub, it can be cut back to about 8 inches from the ground in early spring. As for transplanting, either early to mid-fall once the plant is dormant, or early spring before growth starts are both ok. The choice is yours. The root system needs to fit the leaves on the shrub. The smaller the root ball the more pruning you may need. If it were me I use a long handled narrow trenching shovel. THe blade must only be 6-7 inches on the one I own and it is a longer blade than a normal shovel. I am in favor of getting as much roots as possible since even if you lose the dirt some or all of the roots will survive. With such a shovel the most practical root ball is 2-3 feet and 9 inches deep. I start by going all around the bush one shovel width at a time. YOu will need to angle toward the trunk at maybe a 45 degree angle. The larger the diameter you choose means the more difficult it is to get to the center all the way around. ONe way to get farther is to dig out side the root ball ring with another maybe 6 inches farther out. Soil conditions and roots from trees and other plants affect this. If you get this trench as deep as you can then you can deepen the original cut by most of the depth of the trench. Sometimes a second person can help by lifting the root ball up so you and go deeper as well. Damp clay soil this time of year helps keep the ball intact. If yours is as bushy as ours, then you may have to tie up the limbs to get in close enough. I am not sure I would do any pruning now as youwill lose buds. Maybe some selective pruning. Use burlap to contain the ball with as little breakage. The ball may weigh 50-100 pounds so it is a 2 or 3 person job to get the burlap under it. I would suggest just use the burlap as a sling/streacher to move it unless you are talking miles. Water it well initially. Keep an eye on it and look for wilting and stress as spring and summer progress. YOu may have to prune it if we have a dry hot summer to keep the leaves from giving up more water than the roots can supply. Fortunately i think those glossy leaves help slow the water loss. And over watering will cause root rot. Good luck. Note I have never done this with a gardenia, but I have moved several camelias this way as well as crepe myrtles. I did some severe pruning on the camelia though and screened it from the sun with a piece of lattice.. -- Wes Dukes (wdukes.pobox@com) Swap the . and the @ to email me please. is a garbage address. |
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