Hardy hibiscus

We moved to a new home in March, the home at one point had some pretty amazing landscaping. However the past five years at least it was very neglected, and we've spent most of the summer ridding the gardens of invasive vines and degrading and weeding existing beds.

We have this amazing dinner size plate blooming hardy hibiscus that survived the previous owners neglect and ridiculous winter. However it's to big for the space next to the deck and I really want to transplant it to a different just as sunny spot.

We are in Michigan zone 6, any suggestions whether it should be fall or spring?

Thank you in advance.

I would probably transplant in spring, soon after it starts coming up; and if it is a very large established plant, I would divide it as well. That will give you plenty of time to figure where the best place to move it would be. Too, I'm guessing full sun.

If the soil stays hard for a long time in the spring you might dig the hole now, while the soil is warm.

I would do the job NOW, or start now, first of all you need to decide the new planting area AND if it's a lovely looking plant, I would be inclined to place it where you can still enjoy it's beauty'
As Diana has said, dig the new hole, make it deeper and wider than you think, add plenty humus to the new planting area and mix it well at the bottom of the hole, the rest should be dug and mixed with the soil removed from the hole so it gets added around the root ball.

Start to prepare the plant for removing it from the spot it's in beside your deck. what you need to do is try take out a really good clump of of a root-ball, try keep the soil around the roots in place, it may be that you will have to prune half the length of the stems / branches of the plant to make it easier to handle, help the plant settle better AND most importantly, prevent any wind rocking the plant so the roots don't get moved about when newly transplanted. you might find it easier to lay a thick piece of plastic sheet down and lay the rootball on that or a bit of heavy cloth like old bed sheet folded, this will help you drag the plant to new area or help LIFT it onto a wheel barrow.

When set into the new hole, step back to make sure you have the plant facing the correct way, the back should be at the back of it's new situation.When your refilling the hole after setting the plant in situ it needs to be planted to the same depth as before, the soil around the roots will be a good guide and there will be a mark on the stems / branches showing where the soil was before.

As you start to back fill the hole, use the toe of your boot or shoe to gently but firmly press the soil down as this helps remove any air pockets AND it firms the soil around the roots so the roots have good contact with the new amended soil. I like to add a multi purpose plant feed at this point or handful's of blood/fish. bone meal, this is a slow release fertiliser (natural / chemical free) and it should give the plant a boost come early spring.

Don't look for any new growth this year unless the plant has settled really well BUT if you have hard winters, this new growth may just stop growing and fall off like the rest of the plant.

After you have finished the transplant stage, water it well AND lay a good layer of humus over the whole planting are especially round the root area, this should keep any winter frost / freeze from attacking the roots now they have been disturbed several weeks before the winter cold sets in.

keep an eye on it over winter and early or late spring to look out for nice new shoots sprouting as it used to do before.
After that success, just enjoy your lovely plant next year and I'm sure it will give you much joy for many more years to come.

By the way, I have taken on board you mentioned the plant was hardy so I have assumed your plant is the woody stemmed type of Hibiscus if it's NOT, all the prep and transplanting should be the same, if NOT the woody type the leaves and top growth should die back every winter, BUT still cut the stems down by half to give the plant less stress at moving.

Hope this allows you the confidence to move this lovely plant so you can enjoy it for many more years.

Good luck and kindest Regards.
WeeNel.

You may have already moved the plant but here are my 2 cents worth anyway. It can be applied to any plant.

If I have a choice, I transplant in the Spring before too much growth, or while the plant is dormant. Hibiscus are late waking up from their winter sleep and usually don't begin growing until June with warm weather.

I have 3 hardy Hibiscus and one had to be moved to join the other 2. Did so in the Spring. Hibiscus grow new stems each year and bloom on new wood so early transplanting may net you some blooms the same year.

Follow Weenell advise except tap the soil down gently and leave an inch. Then water to settle the soil around the roots. Once water has drained, add soil to level of the ground.

Replanted in the Spring, the plant will be acclimated to its new home and be ready for winter weather.

Below are my 3 Hibiscus, all from seed .

Blomma,
Those are GORGEOUS hibiscus! ;o)
I just planted my first this fall, so looking forward to next summer blooms
Val

Valal, Thank you, yes they are so pretty but had a late summer so didn't get the blooms shown above nor any seeds. Photo above was taken last year.

Good luck with your first Hibiscus. Shop at Parks seed Co if you want seeds true to color. That is where I got my seeds. They don;t come true from seed when you harvest from your plants but they could never be ugly.

I suggest since you planted this fall, to mulch around the plant after freezing. I used to live in Gt Barrington MA years ago and never planted perennials past Sept. Here in NE, I don't do much planting in the fall.

I'm planning on a nice bed of mulch to keep all my plants warm this winter :-)
So you grew yours from seed!? How long from seed to first blooms?
I bought mine as root cuttings this year

The white one bloomed lightly the first year from a January sowing. The other 2 took bloomed the following year so was a bit over 1 year old..

I just found out they can be propagated from roots. I know they can be propagated with cuttings also.

This message was edited Oct 23, 2014 5:20 PM

Wow that's fast!
can't wait for my blooms! :-)

Val, the idea is not to keep plants warm over the winter. It is to keep the soil frozen so the heaving and thawing of soil won't tear roots. Mulch should be added after the ground have frozen.