| We are moving to a new house in a new city in late December 1999. How can I prepare my rose bush, hydrangea and tree mallow to be moved to their new location? Is it ok to just dig them up and put them in pots right before we move? |
| Shrubs can be transplanted anytime, as long as the ground isn't frozen. Your plants will be dormant during December, making it a perfect time to move them. Take care not to let the roots dry out during the transition from old to new location. You can do this by wrapping the roots in wet burlap, or by transferring the plants into pots so that soil remains all around them. Prune back the canes of your rose bush so that it's easier to handle, but don't do any radical pruning until next March, just before the buds begin to swell. Prune your hydrangea for ease in handling, remembering that it will produce blooms on shoots which grow from older stems. The tree mallow doesn't need to be pruned prior to the move. Be sure to situate your plants so they receive the proper growing conditions in their new homes; conditions similar to what they received in their old locations. Good luck in your new home! |
