| Let's just say you notice that your landscape is | | | | buds, transplanting is still usually okay as long as |
| not quite as it should be. After you get done with | | | | the plant has not started to leaf out. If the plant |
| all your planting (of course AFTER you plant,) you | | | | started to leaf out already, you must wait until |
| notice that some of your trees, for example, | | | | the first freeze to ensure dormancy and then |
| simply do not belong where they are. You realize | | | | transplant. |
| that, to be perfect, they should be moved a few | | | | It is very important to keep the plant out of the |
| feet this way, or a couple feet that way, or to | | | | earth for as short a time as possible. It is not |
| the other side of the flower bed, etc. What you | | | | exactly the same, but it is similar to taking a fish |
| need to do to perfect your beautiful landscape is | | | | out of the water: While it is clearly not the best |
| transplant. Let me assure you, transplanting in | | | | thing for it, it is not detrimental unless it is for an |
| regards to landscaping clearly has nothing to do | | | | extended period of time. You should also try to |
| with the kind of transplanting that John Q was | | | | keep the roots damp while they are out of the |
| after. Well, actually, it is similar, but the object | | | | ground. |
| being transplanted in this case is being transplanted | | | | It is best to dig a ball of earth with the roots |
| to save that object, not to save the object in | | | | when you transplant. If this is not possible, it is |
| which you wish to transplant it. Regarding | | | | vital that you dig up enough of the roots to allow |
| landscaping, transplanting simply means digging up | | | | the plant to revitalize when you replant it. The |
| a plant from where it is not wanted and replanting | | | | basic rule for how much of the roots you need to |
| it in a place where it is wanted. This could be done | | | | dig up is usually about one foot of root-ball for |
| for the health of the plant, or simply for the | | | | every inch of the plant's diameter. If the plant is |
| aesthetic value of your landscape. | | | | three inches thick, the root-ball should be about |
| The most important thing to keep in mind is that | | | | three feet across. |
| transplanting a plant is quite similar to performing | | | | If the roots are bigger than necessary, do not be |
| surgery on a person. If the person is under | | | | concerned about what will happen to your plant if |
| anesthesia, the surgery will not cause any pain; | | | | you prune the roots. This is often times actually |
| but if that person is awake and is aware of what | | | | quite beneficial for the plant, since the roots will |
| is going on, you can bet anything that this poor | | | | then grow even stronger. Basically, the roots, |
| fellow will be in more pain than baseball purists | | | | when severed, grow lateral roots which are |
| watching Barry Bonds. Plants are very similar to | | | | better at soaking up water and nutrients. There |
| people in this regard. Transplanting a plant will | | | | are even machines that are made for the |
| cause the plant to suffer tremendously unless it is | | | | purpose of pruning roots. There is a device that |
| dormant. It will feel less and less suffering the | | | | could be attached to a tractor which undercuts |
| more dormant it is. On the contrary, if the tree is | | | | the roots, thereby forcing the roots to create |
| alive and well and in full bloom when you | | | | more lateral roots. Root pruning, like transplanting, |
| transplant it, it is comparable to performing | | | | should only be done when the plant is dormant. |
| surgery on a person who is awake. | | | | Root pruning is really a great method to prolong |
| The very beginning of spring is a good time to | | | | the life of your plants which predates tractors. |
| transplant as long as the plant you wish to | | | | Before tractors were as common as celebrities in |
| transplant is still dormant. As long as the plant is | | | | rehab, farmers would thrust a spade into the |
| still sleeping, transplanting will not be traumatic for | | | | ground around the plants. This would be done |
| it. Being sure that the plant is dormant is the | | | | during dormancy if a plant was not doing well, or |
| most important thing to be sure of when | | | | just to strengthen a plant. The spade would sever |
| transplanting. Dormancy begins with the first good | | | | the roots creating more lateral roots. Now |
| freeze and continues until the weather warms up. | | | | tractors are used, but it is the same thing with |
| Transplanting is safe to do until the plant starts to | | | | the same goal. |
| leaf out. Even if you begin to notice some green | | | | |