How to Transplant Desert Sage
Hardy and drought-resistant, desert sage is a wise choice for your landscaping needs if you live in a hot, dry climate. Desert sage, also known as purple sage or Salvia dorrii, grows to around 2 feet tall, and is recognizable by its silver-green leaves, purplish flowers and distinctive scent. When you need to transplant a desert sage bush to another location, avoid any drastic moves to prevent damage to the plant. You'll have better success in transplanting desert sage when you proceed gently. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Water the desert sage plant well the day before transplanting to loosen up the soil.
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Dig around the plant, several inches wider than the widest part of the plant. Avoid cutting any large roots as you dig. Work your way around the plant, creating a circle of cuts using the tip of the shovel.
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Work the root ball free of the ground underneath with the shovel. The root ball for most bushes, including desert sage, should be around 15 to 24 inches deep.
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Grasp the root ball and carefully lift the whole plant out of the newly dug hole. Keep the soil around the roots as best you can to reduce damage. Set the desert sage plant in shade near the new location.
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Dig a hole in the new location. Prepare the hole so that it is two to three times the diameter of the root ball. Add some liquid fertilizer or compost to the bottom of the new hole.
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Set the desert sage plant in the center of the hole and push the dirt back around the roots. Tamp the dirt down firmly but gently with the shovel. Water the desert sage immediately.
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Tips & Warnings
Add mulch around the base of the transplanted desert sage to ensure that water doesn't evaporate away too quickly. Add sand to the soil in the new location if it contains a lot of clay. Desert sage does best in loose soil that drains well.
To keep stress on the desert sage plant to a minimum, replant it as soon as possible after digging it out. If you must transport it, cover the root ball with wet burlap to help keep it intact until it reaches its destination.
