Beginner Gardening: Removing a bush, 1 by Ret_Sgt_Yates

Ret_Sgt_Yates wrote:
Hello Jeannie ,
As with any bush or tree the more root ball ( soil around the roots ) that you have in tact will give the bush a better chance of survival. Start by lightly scratching the surface to determine how big the root system is, then using a pointed shovel make cuts all the way around the bush making sort of a trench keep doing this going deeper each time and working toward the bush but not taking away from the ball of dirt or cutting the roots. When you have a trench about 10 to 12 inches deep maybe less grasp the bush at the base and try to lean it to one side or the other. If its lose ok if not you may try adding water at this point. (Only at the base of the trench area it should look like this if you have dug the area right  V  ) Once you have it lose and out you will need to wrap the root ball (Do Not use Plastic) use burlap, cloth, old sheets , or something of this sort and move to shaded area and water well the root ball Not the bush greens . Wait for your friend to pick it up. Good luck