Sometimes the spot where you thought a plant would look cool a few years ago didn't turn out to be such a good choice afterall. Maybe it was sunnier or shadier than you expected, (read really- you didn't notice how sunny it was or wasn't before you planted), the shrub got too big (read really- you didn't plan for how big it would get...) or you just thought it would look better on the other side of the yard (read really- well, sometimes that happens). I move alot of plants around in my garden (because I have so many crammed in). It certainly is easier to pop out a perennial and move it than it is to dig out a shrub, but it can be done. And if it is in the wrong spot now, it is still going to be in the wrong spot later- be brave and try to move it! Of course larger plants may require a landscaper, root balls with heavy soil make for some serious work. This week I moved a rose bush, which was under a 'Seiryu' Japanese Maple. After 12 years in this garden, the canopy is now shading all the space underneath, making for the wrong light for a rose. I also had to (ok, I asked my husband to..) dig out and discard a rather large Globe Blue Spruce. That was on the back side of the 'Seiryu' and hadn't been getting proper sun for a few years. I should have moved it 5 years ago, but as it was a few days ago, it looked scrappy and went to plant heaven (compost for my garden.) I moved 2 Hydrangea in to these now open areas, as they were being crowded where they had been planted and needed some more space. I bought both the Hydrangea in little quart pots around 5 years ago and they finally have some size to them. I had a Daylily that also found a new home, it was on a spot where I cut a corner when I walked the garden, and the ground around it was very compact. It had been struggling for a few years. Now it has a nice new spot where I am sure it will once again thrive. Your garden is dynamic and ever changing. Plants grow, plants die, new plants come home with you. Shift and adjust with the flow of your garden.

If you are going to move plants around, this is a great time to do so. If it is a larger shrub, it is beneficial to remove 1/3 or so of the canopy to compensate for root loss when you dig it out. Water them well the evening before and have the hole dug where they will be going. Most roots grow out rather than down, so a wider root ball is a key factor of successful transplanting. The "drip line" is the area directly under the outer edge canopy of the foliage. So if your shrub is 3' wide, the drip line would be a 3' circle on the ground under the foliage. With a nice sharp spade (1st choice) or shovel (2nd choice) follow this imaginary line around the circle until you meet up with where you started. Make decisive thrusts at a 45 degree-ish angle into the ground with your spade to get clean cuts on the roots. You may need a pair of pruners too for larger roots that your spade has to mangle to cut. Certainly some plants will move easier than others, based on what kind of root system they have. As you pop it out of the ground, place the root system on a piece of burlap or an old sheet to cradle the root system and prevent as much soil as possible from falling off. Take it over to your other spot. Now here is another spot where success is made or broken. Plants hate to be planted too deep. 2" too deep can kill a tree! So check the depth of your new hole against the depth of your root system and make sure the depths match. It is even good to plant a little too high (1-2") to allow for settling. If you don't check before you put your plant in the new hole, you may need to pull it out and put it back in a few times, and now you are losing soil off the roots and success % is dropping. Once properly in the hole, back fill with amended soil and lightly tamp (not smash) the soil firmly around the roots. Give it a good drink, tell it you love it and that it will love its new home. Follow with drinks once a week when we don't get good soaking rain. Some perennials and shrubs really don't like to be moved. But if the shrub or perennial isn't in the right spot, it is better to take the chance of moving it to a better spot than to let it limp along til it dies.

Be brave, try it! Once you do a few, it will be like trying the couch in a new spot! :) Yay for spring chores and looking forward to changes in the garden! Happy Wonderful Sunshiney day! ~Erica