How to Transplant a Rhododendron

Rhododendrons provide rich color in early spring that lasts for several weeks. After blooming, these shrubs offer attractive foliage and provide shelter for birds. Available in white, purple, red, orange and yellow, these prolific bloomers are ideal in nearly any landscape and can provide depth and texture to your yard. Once established they grow for years with little care, but should you decide you wish to move a rhododendron to another location, transplanting them is relatively easy and almost always successful.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Garden spade
• Soil test kit
• Wheelbarrow

1. Prepare a new bed in a sunny or partially sunny location before digging up the original shrub. This eliminates or lessens the risk of stress to the original plant.

2. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root ball of the shrub. It is better to err on the side of making the hole too large, but use your best judgment to determine the size of the hole in advance.

3. If you are unsure of your soil's pH level, test it before transplanting your rhododendron. Rhododendrons prefer acidic soil with a pH between 5 and 6. Follow the recommendations on your pH kit for amending the soil to alter the pH appropriately.

4. Dig the rhododendron from the original site. Roots rarely run deeper than a foot, but they are fibrous and may extend for 2 feet or more around the base of the shrub. Use care to dig up the entire root ball. Place the shrub in a wheelbarrow or garden cart and move to the new location. Note that rhododendrons can be held aside before planting, but they do best if the time between digging and planting is kept to a minimum.

5. Soak the root ball in a tub or bucket of tepid water for 20 minutes to saturate the roots. Remove from the water and gently remove soil from the outer edges of the root ball to expose young roots. It is not necessary to remove soil from the entire root ball.

6. Plant to the original depth in the new location. Cover the root ball with fresh soil and pack down firmly with your hands to remove air pockets and stabilize the plant.

7. Water thoroughly and keep soil evenly moist until the shrub is established and you observe signs of new growth.

References

• American Rhododendron Society
• University of Illinois Library