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Transplanting hydrangeas in the summer


Relocating Hydrangeas: How To Successfully Move Your Established Plant

So you’ve decided your Hydrangea would look better or thrive better in a different location. But looking at this large, woody shrub, you might find yourself wondering if it’s even possible to transplant it safely. How can you move your Hydrangea without harming or killing it?

Timing is the most crucial factor in relocating Hydrangeas. Move the plant after it’s gone dormant – mid-fall in colder climates, or winter in warmer ones. Keep the roots moist during the process, and water thoroughly afterward to prevent transplant shock.

Your relocated Hydrangea will have many of the same requirements as a newly planted bush. Make sure the soil in the new site drains well, and apply mulch to keep too much moisture from escaping the root ball.

Can an Established Hydrangea Be Moved?

It’s no secret that Hydrangeas love to spread out. When you’re dealing with one that’s reached its mature size, it’s sometimes hard to believe that it could be relocated without destroying it.

But appearances can be deceiving. Although Hydrangeas tend to grow into wide and imposing bushes, the root clusters underneath are shallower and more compact than those of other woody shrubs. They’re much easier to get free of the ground than you’d expect.

That said, younger Hydrangeas will usually have more vigorous root systems, so they’ll have an easier time recovering from the stress of moving. When you’re transplanting a more mature Hydrangea, you’ll want to be extra careful to give it enough water and nutrition afterward. 

Convenience is also a factor, of course. It doesn’t do much good to know that the plant will survive being moved if your back won’t survive moving it! For really large and well-established Hydrangeas, you may want to consider tying the stems together with twine to make it a little less unwieldy.

Pruning the plant to a more manageable size before transplanting is also an option, but be mindful that this may prevent it from flowering the following season.

Varieties that bloom on new growth, like smooth or panicle Hydrangeas, are more tolerant of trimming. Bigleaf, oakleaf, and climbing Hydrangeas won’t bloom if you cut them back too far.

The Best Time of Year for Transplanting Hydrangeas

For everything in the garden, there is a season, and transplanting is no exception. If you move your Hydrangeas in the heat of the summer, their roots are at risk of drying out, which could kill your plant.

To ensure the best outcome, move your Hydrangea after it’s gone fully dormant for the season. With no need to divert energy to leaf upkeep, it will have an easier time reestablishing its root system once replanted.

If your local climate is cold enough that the ground freezes solid in the winter, time the move for before this happens. Mid to late November is usually a safe bet. By then, your Hydrangea will have shed its leaves, but the soil should still be soft enough to dig. 

Those in warmer areas where the earth can be turned year-round have a longer window. Any time between December and February should work well.

No matter what time of year you’re relocating your Hydrangea, picking a cool, cloudy day will reduce the risk of the roots drying out in transit. And you should water it thoroughly two to three days in advance to ensure it has some reserves to hold it over after the move.

Gather Your Tools

Transplanting a Hydrangea doesn’t require too much equipment. But there are a few things you should have on hand:

A sharp spade or shovel, to dig up your Hydrangea and sever any roots that protrude past the main mass.
Some cloth, like a burlap sack or an old towel, to help keep the root ball moist while it’s being moved.
A hose or watering can, to quench the plant’s thirsty roots.
Plenty of mulch, to cut down on evaporation from the soil.
Some compost, to nourish your transplant and improve drainage in the soil.

Aside from those essentials, you might also want to have:
A pick or pitchfork, to help lever the roots of a more mature and stubborn Hydrangea.
Some rope or twine, to tie the branches together and keep them out of the way.
A wheelbarrow, to make it easier to carry.
Some pruning shears, to trim the plant back before moving it.
Isopropyl alcohol, to sterilize your shears.
Slow-release organic fertilizer, to nourish the transplant.
A friend, to help out.

How to Move a Hydrangea Bush

You’ve chosen a date when your plant is dormant, you’ve watered it two days ahead of time, and you’ve assembled all the materials you need. Now you’re ready to begin relocating your Hydrangea.

Dig the new hole. The less time the plant has to spend with its roots out of the ground, the better. So your first priority is getting its new home ready before you evict it from the old one.

Dig around the base of the bush. Start one to two feet away, depending on how large your Hydrangea is. Use your spade to cut through any roots that trail away from the edge of the root ball, but try to preserve as much of the main mass as you can.

Lift it free of the soil. If the roots are particularly deep, this is where you may need to use your pick. Try to dislodge as little dirt from the root ball as possible.

Wrap the roots in fabric. This will help lock in dirt and moisture. If you have to set your Hydrangea aside, place it somewhere cool and moist.

Replant your Hydrangea. Place it about as deep in the ground as it was before. Mix some compost into the soil for nutrition and drainage.

Water well. Your Hydrangea’s roots need plenty of moisture to get comfortable in their new home.

Add mulch. Put down a layer about three inches deep, starting about six inches away from the base of the plant.

Fertilize as needed. This step may not be necessary, but if you do fertilize, use a slow-release variety and place it on top of the soil rather than directly on the roots.

The Best Spot in Your Yard for Hydrangeas

One of the most common reasons to relocate a plant is because you’re worried it’s not thriving where it is. So, where should you move your Hydrangea to help it fulfill its potential?

In most cases, Hydrangeas crave a mix of sun and shade. Plant yours where it can get full sun in the morning but can cool off in the shade later in the day. In colder climates, some Hydrangeas can tolerate full sun all day.

Try to leave a little space between your Hydrangea and other plants, allowing air to circulate. Also, you’ll want to choose a site with well-draining soil that contains plenty of organic matter. Enrich the soil with compost if it seems too dense.

Will Hydrangeas Bloom After Transplanting?

It’s natural to be concerned that the stress of transplanting might keep your Hydrangea from producing its usual lively display of color. And it’s quite possible that you will have few or no flowers the following season while your plant recovers from its upheaval. But Hydrangeas are remarkably hardy, and it’s tough to keep them down forever. The vibrant blooms you know and love should return within a year or two.

Watch out for transplant shock after you relocate your Hydrangea. Water it thoroughly, and if it stays wilted for more than a few days, you can try giving it a weak solution of sugar water to nurse it back to health.

Putting It All Together

All this advice might make transplanting sound complicated, but don’t worry. Hydrangeas are actually quite resilient plants and comparatively easy to relocate.

As long as you wait until your plant is dormant, keep its roots moist while you’re moving it, and give it plenty of TLC to get it settled, it should do just fine. Make sure it has enough sun to let it grow and enough shade to protect it in the heat of the day. Keep those key tips in mind, and your Hydrangea’s big move will go off without a hitch.

Planting & Transplanting Hydrangeas - The Complete Guide

Whether you’re planting a hydrangea in the garden or transferring a hydrangea from a pot to a planter, timing is important and can influence the health and viability of your hydrangea plants.

There are plenty of reasons why you may need to transfer a hydrangea and lack of space or lack of adequate sun exposure are the most common reasons.

I’m going to discuss the best time to plant a hydrangea outside when to transplant hydrangeas and choosing the best location for these plants.

Best Time to Plant Hydrangeas Outside

If you’re bringing home a hydrangea from a garden center and want to plant it outside, or you have an indoor hydrangea you want to plant in your garden, the correct timing of the planting makes a whole lot of difference.

Plant at the wrong time and you risk exposing your hydrangea to frost damage, loss of buds, loss of blooms or leaves caused by transplant shock.

Assuming that your hydrangea is otherwise hardy in your area, the best time to plant it outside in the garden is in mid-spring or early summer.

Spring can be tricky, because late frosts may set in, so planting in early summer guarantees the survivability of young hydrangeas.

You can also plant hydrangeas in the in fall (preferably early fall) but avoid planting during the hottest parts of the summer. Since hydrangeas require moist soil, it will be difficult to keep them happy in the heat of the summer.

Choosing the Location for Hydrangeas

When planting hydrangeas outdoors, location is another thing you must consider. Avoid heavy shade for all hydrangeas and choose locations that receive morning sun and afternoon shade.

In cooler locations, you can plant hydrangeas even in full sun. In fact, the further up north one lives, the more sun hydrangeas need to thrive.

Don’t plant hydrangeas under trees. There are at least two reasons for this. First, if the tree has a thick canopy, it blocks essential light from reaching the plant, causing blooming issues and plant development issues.

The second reason is that the roots of the tree can grow aggressively and take away the rich nutrients needed for hydrangeas. Even if you remove some of the roots of the tree, they’ll grow back next year.

A further aspect to consider is how well the soil drains in the location you’re planning on planting your hydrangeas. If it’s a spot in your garden where water sits for too long and drains slowly, consider a different location.

Moist soil is fine for hydrangeas, but wet soil isn’t. Wet soil will cause the roots to start rooting, killing off your hydrangeas.

Best Time for Transplanting Hydrangeas

If you’re transplanting hydrangeas from one location in your garden to another or from one pot to a larger one, it’s good to consider the ideal timing of these activities.

If your hydrangea is in a pot and you want to transplant it to a larger pot or planter, you should transplant it in early spring, just before the plant starts to come out of it’s dormancy and shoots new growths.

So, if you’re moving your hydrangea from one location to another in your garden, there are two approaches to transplanting:

This dormancy period is the ideal time to transplant hydrangeas because you’re not interfering much with the plant’s metabolism and you’re not shocking the plant as much as you would in spring or summer.

As I will explain later in this article, you can transplant hydrangeas even outside the dormancy period, but not without risks.

How to Transplant Hydrangea Plants?

Transplanting hydrangeas plants from one location in your garden to another usually involves the following steps:

  1. Start by digging a hole in the location where you want to transplant your hydrangea
  2. Dig out your hydrangea making sure to get as much as the root ball as possible (dig in a circle around the hydrangea)
  3. Move the hydrangea to the new location (you may need help with this if your hydrangea shrub is large)
  4. Water deeply once if you’re transplanting a dormant hydrangea, resume normal watering in spring.
  5. Keep your hydrangea well-watered during the first two seasons after transplanting

The reason you want to start by digging a hole at the transplant site is to expedite the transfer and avoid your hydrangea sitting for too long with its roots exposed.

It can be difficult to dig out a relatively established hydrangea and the whole plant can also be heavy, so you may need an extra pair of hands to move the plant to its new location.

Can You Transplant Hydrangeas in Summer?

You can also transplant hydrangeas in spring or summer, except when temperatures are too high in the summer or there’s a heatwave.

Be advised that a hydrangea that’s in bloom may have it’s blooms fall off from transplant shock. Leaves and buds can also be affected.

When transplanting during spring or summer, carry out the transplant in the morning to reduce any adverse effects of the summer heat on your plant.

To minimize the shock of the transplant, try to move as much of the soil around the root ball with the plant and water your hydrangea deeply after transplanting.

Therefore, you can transplant hydrangeas in summer if need be; however, it’s much less stressful on the plant to have it transplanted in the fall or in early spring.

Wrap Up

Hydrangeas enjoy sunny spots or semi-shade and thrive in moist, well-draining soil. If there’s a need to transplant your hydrangea or move it from a pot to the garden, ideally, you should time these transfers so the shock to the plant is minimal.

When the plant is dormant, you can move it with the least amount of stress, but you can also plant or transplant in spring, fall and summer if it isn’t too hot, being mindful of potential loss of blooms.

how to transplant in summer, why transplant to a new place, rules

Content

Hydrangeas are one of the most attractive perennials with abundant flowering. This shrub rather painfully endures any transplant, but sometimes it still becomes necessary to transfer it to another place. The most suitable time for this is autumn and spring, in extreme cases, you can transplant hydrangeas in the summer, but you can face big problems.

Is it possible to transplant hydrangeas in summer

Hydrangeas are transplanted to a new place during the dormant period, in early spring, before the start of vegetation, and in autumn. The summer months, especially July and August, are a period of intensive growth of shoots and abundant flowering, at which time metabolic processes occur especially quickly in the plant. Any intervention during this period can cause severe stress in the shrub, the hydrangea will simply drop the flowers, and in some cases it may die. Therefore, transplantation in the summer is carried out only in case of emergency, with the threat of plant death (for example, a flower interferes with construction on the site).

Summer transplantation is most often a necessary measure

Important! If it is possible to postpone the hydrangea transplant until autumn or until next spring, then this should definitely be used.

Why transplant hydrangeas in summer to another place

Most often, hydrangeas may need transplanting in summer in emergency cases. Unfortunately, life situations often develop in such a way that the performance of some work has to be postponed at the wrong time. Summer transplantation may be required for these flowers in the following cases:

  1. There is an urgent need to free up space in the garden (changes in layout, construction of new buildings, laying of communications, storage of materials, etc.).
  2. The plant ended up in the wrong place due to some natural causes or weather disasters (for example, the site was flooded, the landscape changed, etc.).
  3. The owner is selling the garden or house and does not want to leave the flower to the new owners.
  4. There is a serious threat of hydrangea disease from other shrubs growing in the immediate vicinity.

When to transplant hydrangeas in summer

Transplanting hydrangeas in any month in summer is a very big risk. If possible, it is better to wait until the bushes have completely faded. Usually, the flowering of most varieties of this plant ends by the end of August, so it is better to transplant at the same time.

Transplantation is best done after flowering ends

In emergency cases, flowering shrubs are also transplanted. However, the chances of a successful outcome of such an operation are much less.

How to transplant hydrangeas in summer to a new place

Young hydrangea bushes up to 5 years old tolerate transplanting quite well. The older the bush, the more difficult it will be for him to adapt to a new place.

Selecting and preparing a planting site

For normal growth of hydrangeas, the site for planting them must have the following characteristics:

  1. Illumination. Hydrangeas love plenty of light, but direct sunlight can cause them to burn. The light should be soft, diffused. These shrubs also grow well in partial shade, but in this case the number of inflorescences on them decreases. Plants growing in the shade may not bloom at all.
  2. Soil. The soil at the landing site should be loose, well-drained, moderately moist. Hydrangea does not tolerate stagnant water, so you can not plant it in wetlands and where water accumulates after rain. Groundwater should come to the surface no closer than 1 m. It is important that the soil has an acidic reaction; on sandy and carbonate lands, the shrub will be very sick. The optimal pH level of the soil under hydrangeas is from 4 to 5.5.
  3. Air temperature. Many species of these plants do not tolerate frost well, especially its most decorative, large-leaved varieties. The landing site should be protected from the cold north wind.

Preparing hydrangeas for transplanting in the summer

Preparations for transplanting hydrangeas take a lot of time and require considerable effort. In summer, transplantation is carried out only with a clod of earth on the roots, and the larger it is, the greater the chance of a favorable outcome. Planting holes must be dug in advance. Their dimensions should be several times greater than the size of an earthen coma on a shrub that is to be transplanted.

The soil must be loose and well drained

To fill the pits after transplanting, prepare a mixture of high ground and peat. At the bottom of the pit, a drainage layer of fragments of brick, expanded clay or crushed stone is necessarily poured.

Hydrangea Transplant Rules in Summer

It is important to understand that the root system of the hydrangea bush will be damaged in one way or another during the summer transplanting process. This will cause a malnutrition of the aerial part of the flower, the roots of the plant simply cannot cope with such a load. To reduce it, all flower stalks and buds must be cut off, since the plant will drop them anyway after planting. Shoots also need to be cut to half the length.

Before replanting, all inflorescences should be cut off.

In summer, hydrangeas are transplanted on a cloudy day. The root zone is shed with water in advance, and then the bush is dug in from all sides approximately along the projection of the crown, trying to injure the roots as little as possible and keep a clod of earth on them. The plant dug out of the ground is transported to the landing site on a trolley or carried by hand on a piece of tarpaulin. It needs to be planted immediately. The bush is installed in the planting hole, if necessary, adding a little soil so that the root collar of the plant remains flush with the soil surface.

The remaining voids are covered with soil. Having filled the planting hole completely, intensive watering of the hydrangea bush is carried out, and then the soil surface around the bush is mulched with the bark of coniferous trees or dry pine or spruce needles. In addition to retaining moisture in the soil, mulching with such materials contributes to the acidification of the soil.

Important! After the stress of transplanting in the summer, hydrangeas may not bloom for several seasons.

Pot varieties tolerate transplanting much better in summer

Potted hydrangeas are less likely to get into trouble when they need to be transplanted in the summer. Unlike garden plants, they tolerate this procedure much easier. However, even here it is necessary to be careful and be sure to keep a whole earthen ball on the roots. If the root system was not damaged when removed from the container, then the result is likely to be positive. Despite this, it is recommended to transship potted plants in the spring, in April.

How to feed hydrangeas in summer after transplanting

After summer transplanting, hydrangeas do not need to be fed. The growth and flowering of the shrub should not be provoked, because its root system is greatly weakened. A small amount of potash and phosphorus mineral fertilizers can be added to the composition of the nutrient soil, which is used to cover the root system of a hydrangea bush during transplantation. However, this should only be done if the soil is initially poor. It should be remembered that the use of mineral fertilizers during transplantation can lead to a burn of its roots, many of which will inevitably be damaged during transplantation. Therefore, it is better to wait for the result, make sure that the transplant was successful, and in the fall, feed the bushes with rotted manure or humus.

Care after planting

Hydrangeas require rest and moderate watering after transplanting. You need to navigate this issue according to the weather and, if there is not enough atmospheric moisture, periodically moisten the soil with settled rainwater. In the heat, about 1 time per week, it is necessary to sprinkle the plants in the evening. You should also cover the transplanted bushes from direct sunlight, shading them with special screens made of paper or fabric.

Transplanted hydrangeas need regular watering

Important! It is not recommended to use water from artesian wells or from the water supply for irrigation or sprinkling. Often, it has excessive rigidity; when it enters the soil, it greatly reduces its acidity, which is unacceptable for hydrangeas.

Conclusion

It is possible to transplant hydrangeas in the summer, but such a procedure at this time is possible only in exceptional cases. The shrub will recover for a rather long time, while flowering in the next season should not be expected from it. In some cases, an unfavorable outcome is also possible, the hydrangea may die. Therefore, it is so important to initially choose the right place for landing, and if you transplant to a new place, then only at the optimal time for this.

How to transplant a hydrangea to another place in the summer

Hydrangea is a beautiful ornamental plant that is grown to decorate the adjacent territory and premises. Usually the flower is transferred in autumn and spring. Transplanting hydrangeas to a new place in the summer is only permissible if there are important reasons for this.

Sluggish leaves - a sign of soil depletion or lack of moisture

Is it possible to transplant a hydrangea to a new place in the summer

If the work is done correctly, the plant tolerates moving to a new place well. It does not get sick and does not wither after transplantation, but it can shed flowers, stop producing them until the end of the season, and buds will appear only next year. Therefore, it is not recommended to transfer the bush to a new place in the summer. In some cases this needs to be done, for example if:

Notice! You can determine the depletion of the soil by reducing flowering.

Transplanting in the summer is always a lot of stress. Care must be taken to minimize the negative impact of gardening.

How to Transplant a Hydrangea in Summer

An ornamental plant grows well in well-lit areas, it is advisable to plant it on the east and southeast side from trees and buildings that will protect the bush from the hot afternoon sun. Wind and drafts harm the plant, so you need to choose areas protected from the movement of air masses.

Good permeability of the soil is an important factor in lush flowering

Site and soil preparation

Hydrangeas prefer loams with an acidic or neutral environment. Chernozem, manure-humus and calcareous soil must be acidified by adding leaves, bark, wood shavings or needles to the humus when digging. Too dense clay soil at the landing site must be loosened with sand.

Proceedings:

  1. Preparation of the seat begins a few days before transplantation.
  2. Dig a planting hole 50x50x50.
  3. The day before transplanting, several buckets of water are poured into it to moisten the soil well.
  4. After the soil has absorbed water, pour a little soil for hydrangeas into the pit, a layer of 15-20 cm or a mixture of peat, coniferous and leafy soil, humus and sand in equal parts.
  5. Add one tablespoon of phosphorus and potash fertilizer to the soil substance.

In such a hole, the flower will be provided with all the nutrients and it will be easier to transplant.

Warning! The acidity of the soil affects the color of the petals in some large-flowered varieties: slightly alkaline soils give a pink color, acidic soils are blue, neutral white or cream.

Preparing Hydrangeas

Preparing work reduces the stress of transplanting.

Work progress:

  1. Dig a hole 20-25 cm deep and 20-25 cm wide around the bush at a distance of 30-40 cm.
  2. Pour compost into it.
  3. Water regularly.

After 1-2 weeks, the hydrangea will put out small lateral roots that are invulnerable when the plant is dug up. They will intensively absorb nutrients after landing in a new place.

Before transplanting, the following steps should be taken:

  1. The bush is pruned, removing damaged and sluggish shoots.
  2. Long stems are tied with rope.
  3. The flower is dug along the outer edge of the trench to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  4. The bush is pulled out of the ground, being careful not to damage the young roots.
If the hydrangea is widely dug and carefully replanted with an earthen clod, flowering can be preserved

If the old rhizomes are torn during the extraction of the bush, nothing bad will happen, after proper preparation, the hydrangea will form a new, strong root system.

Transplanting hydrangeas to another place in the summer

It remains to transplant the flower to a new place.

Work progress:

  1. The plant, together with the earthen clod, is placed in a new hole so that the root collar is at the level of the soil.
  2. Backfill the hole on the sides with soil mixture.
  3. Hydrangea is well watered.
  4. Place a mulch of leaves, sawdust, shredded bark or needles over the buried hole.

Mulch retains moisture in the summer, it will not allow the soil around the roots to dry out quickly.

Aftercare

If the rules are followed, the bush will tolerate moving to a new place well and will bloom profusely.

After transplanting, hydrangeas require a minimum of care in summer:

Conclusion

Transplanting hydrangeas to a new location in the summer requires several weeks of preparation. The work is carried out in stages, so they will actually take 2-3 hours from the gardener. This is not so much, given the abundant flowering that gardeners are pleased with the flower all summer.

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