Gardening guides from the Garden Helper
Celebrating 10 years of helping your gardens grow!
[ The Garden Helper][ Gardening Basics][ "How to" Guides][ House plants][ Glossary of Terms]
[ Garden Encyclopedia][USDA Zones][ Monthly Reminders][ Free Screensavers][Recipes]
[ **** The Gardener's Forum ****]

vines and flowers

Transplanting Azaleas and Rhododendrons

June24,1998
I have several large (about 3ft tall), old (about 5 years) azaleas that I want to move. Can azaleas be moved? How? When?

Azalea

Azaleas may be transplanted successfully during almost any season of the year, but early fall at the beginning of their dormant period is the best time.
Here is the procedure I try to follow....
    Transplanting Azaleas
  • Dig your new hole about 2 feet deep, and 1 foot wider each way than the full spread of the root ball of the plant (this larger hole will benefit the rapid regrowth of the roots).
  • Mix in a generous amount of peat moss and compost and a handful of transplant food to the soil you have removed.
  • Fill the hole with water.
  • Take a sharp shovel, and cut a circular narrow trench (cutting the roots cleanly) at the drip line of the plant you are going to move, making your cuts as vertical as possible, and about 12-18 inches deep.
  • If possible, get some help, and using 2 or 3 shovels positioned evenly around the plant, simultaneously apply lever pressure to the shovels. The plant should "POP" up out of the hole.
  • Get some help, and remove the plant from the hole, and into a wheelbarrow, or tarp. Transport it to your prepared hole.
  • Set the plant into the hole, adding or removing soil so that the plant is as close as possible to the depth at which it was previously growing.
  • Turn the plant in the hole so that it presents its best side toward the area it will be viewed from.
  • Again, fill the hole with water, and then begin to add the soil to the hole. Yes, you will have a muddy mess, but this will insure that there are no air pockets around the roots.
  • Apply a mulch if desired.
  • Step back and admire your work,,,next spring its going to look great!
For more general care of Azaleas, go to azaleas.htm

Gardeners helping other gardeners

[ Home page][ The Garden Helper][ Site index]
[ Plants by common terms][ Plants by botanical terms][ 'How to' Gardening guides][ Monthly reminders]
[ Free Screensavers][ Animations and Graphics][ Nature Photos]
[ Gardeners Forum][ Gardening Glossary][Link to the Garden Helper]

Google The Garden Helper
  Web TheGardenHelper.com   

[move+rhody]