transplanting shrubs advice needed

Hi all,

We just moved into a home that has several well established holly (I think mostly) shrubs. They are healthy and nice, but definitely not where we want them to stay. We would like to transplant them but not sure about the how, when and all that. They are about 3-4 feet tall, with bases about 8-10 inches in diameter, about 3-4 feet apart right now. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Hi bernrice, your Holly plants really are rather large, a)for handling
b)weight and, c)root size.
However, if they need to go, then the best time to do any transplanting of shrubs is either end of summer when it is cooler and the plants dont suffer so much shock due to evaporation in leaves etc, or, early spring, before the hot weather starts.
What I would normaly do is, RIGHT NOW, cut around a wide area of root with a spade, all your Holly/shrubs that are to be moved, this will cut through the top roots, then add some new compost to the gap where you cut around the Holly, this will encourage new/fine roots to develope over the next few months, then when you want to dig out the shrubs, prepare the NEW planting hole before you dig out the 1st Holly, dig the hole twice as wide and deep as the shrub, add some good quality compost and general feed to the hole, go back to your 1st holly and dig it out with a good amount of soil around the roots (you may have to lay it on an old sack/sheet or pollythene etc so you can drag/lift into new planting space with less damage to the plant,(Ware protective clothing for evident reasons) backfill the hole once you are happy that the Holly is, a)upright, b)facing in the right direction as before, c)will not rock about with the wind, Stake if needed. If you are happy, have a rest and then get to the second Holly in the same way, new planting hole first.
I am not sure where your plants are, but would it help to hard prune them into shapes like balls, cones or others. I did this to Holly trees that outgrew the site they were in, the first year they looked like just bare bits on branches, (always leave some leaf on each branck as this will encourage sap to rise and form new growth) but the new growth soon came and the tiny new leaves gave it a new look and interest, as the years went by, once a year I have just gone over them with secetuers and they are much admired, give shape and form to the area and after 4 years, look like I had always planned to do this. it is fun to do, wont harm the Holly and I learned a new skill all in the space of some years.
Good Luck whatever you plan, hope this helped some.
WeeNel.

WeeNel,

Thank you so much for the awesome advice. I like the idea of getting them ready to move so they will be successful in the end. My DH will like that they shouldn't be moved right now :o)

Right now they block the front porch which we'd really like to have open, and we do need them elsewhere, so hopefully if I prepare for it adequately, they will do okay.

Again, many thanks for the great advice.
Bernadette

Bernadette, good luck with your transplanting. Did you move within Ocean Springs or are you new to the area? How is Ocean Springs today after Katrina? I saw a website with before/after photos of Ocean Springs and I couldn't believe the damage. My in-laws lived in Gulf Hills for about 27 years before moving here in 2000. Very glad they did. Do you happen to know if the Mississippi Mud Pottery is still in business? Their website seems to have been taken down.

Debra

Hope it all works out well for you, this is not an easy task, there are no gaurentees with tree's that have such wide trunks, this also means that the roots are wide and deeper than you will think, but as you can prepare for the move stage at a time then it should be better than just wrenching them out the ground and re planting them as they would sure die from shock, when you do start to dig them out, the new fine roots I mentioned that will grow into the compost you put into the trench you cut around, are the new roots that have grown in search of moisture, so make sure you dont let this dry out to much and try not to cut them off as you lift them into new site, glad I could help, prey it all works well for you, OH and take plenty breathers as this aint a one man job with trees this size, good luck. WeeNel.

Hi Debra (Fleurs),
I just moved from Gulf Hills to Biloxi, haven't changed my location just yet (still pretty tied to OS :o) A good portion of homes in Gulf Hills were destroyed, pretty much anything near the bayous which run all through the area. We were extremely blessed -- the water came up from the back and stopped right at the baseline of the house. Two houses on the other side of our fence are now gone. Where did your in-laws live in GH? I still have my home in GH, am working on renting it out, so if you'd like me to check out their old address and get a pic let me know.

OS is coming back strong. So much history is gone though, and that can't be recovered. One lane of the bridge to Biloxi is supposed to be open by November. I know the name Mississippi Mud Works, but am not sure about it -- I'll check it out and see.
Bernadette

WeeNel,

Thanks for the additional info. I really hope they can make it, because they are so healthy and beautiful. We'll work on it slowly and hopefully that will help.
Bernadette

Bernadette,
They lived on the bayou and were told the water was to the ceiling of their former home. The highest it had ever been in the past was like your situation - water to the foundation but not in the house. They had some wet carpets due to windows blowing out but could always repair easily. They are 92 and 89 and we are very glad they don't have to deal with hurricanes anymore. (just tornados here! lol) I'll dmail their old address when I find it. They would love to see the house now. You are so sweet to offer to take a photo of it. Good luck in your new location. The photos we saw of Biloxi were just unbelievable. My future son-in-law's parents live in Slidell, LA and just moved back into their home after living in a FEMA trailor for two years - and they were among the lucky ones to have a home to move back into! I'm sure we cannot really comprehend the extent of the damage and what it takes to recover when we have not experienced it.

Debra

Debra,
It is amazing that people here are still in trailers, but they are. One of my old neighbors has been working on his house that had12 feet of water and he works on it EVERY day, but it is just slow going. I'd have gone crazy long before now. I'm glad your inlaws did not have to deal with the storm, and I hope y'all never have to deal with a devastating tornado situation. Glad to hear about your future in-laws getting to move back in to their home in Slidell. We're all just praying for a nice quiet hurricane season (starts on Friday ;o). No problem on taking a pic of the house in Gulf Hills, I'm sure it would be really interesting for you all to see what's left.
Bernadette