Paul James, host of HGTV's Gardening by the Yard, offers tips on transplanting a shrub in the summer. The best time to transplant most plants is while they're dormant -- in fall or winter -- or just as new growth is beginning to emerge in early spring. The worst time to move most plants is summer because their metabolism is at a seasonal high. But if you must move a plant during the summer, here's how to proceed: - First, dig a new planting hole where you intend to move the shrub before you dig it up. Sever the roots around the shrub by driving a shovel all the way around it (figure A) -- 12" to 15" from the center of the shrub. Then angle the shovel sharply to get to the roots directly beneath it, and begin cutting them as well.
- At this point you may need a little help. Place a tarp as close to the shrub as possible so that when you lift it out of the ground, you can transfer it to the tarp and drag it to the new planting site (figure B).
- Water the transplanted shrub well, and don't let the soil dry out. Apply a 3"- to 4"-layer of mulch around the base of the shrub.
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