Holly is a welcome light-green spot in the garden in winter , especially with itsfestive berry . If you decide you demand to move it elsewhere , however , you ’ll be facing a big job — not to name a hazardous one , because those spiked leave-taking pack a poky punch .
The larger your tree is , the problematical the holly ( Ilex , USDA plant hardiness zona 5 to 9 ) will be to transplanting and the longer its road to recovery . Timing is crucial too ; to limit transplant shock , transplanting only in fountain or other fall .
Tips for Transplanting Established Holly Trees
Here are some helpful tips for transplanting an already plant holly tree .
Don’t Transplant a Holly Tree in Summer or Winter
First off , avoid transplanting any flora , shrub or tree in summer . The heat will produce an unnecessarily hard environment to suffer fresh antecedent formation , so just do n’t do it .
And for evergreens , such as holly , do n’t transplant them in the winter either . Evergreen trees carry on to turn a loss moisture over wintertime , and the soil may not be conducive to novel root word growth due to compaction or freeze down temperature .
For evergreens , such as holly , do n’t transfer in either winter or summer .
Protect the Root Ball
The amount of root you’re able to bring with your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree will greatly touch on its power to pull out out of transplant shock and reestablish itself in a Modern localisation .
attempt to plan ahead because large trees can also greatly benefit from antecedent pruning several months in progression of transplant . Root pruning entails digging a oceanic abyss around the tree the size of the root ball you wish to retain . This severs many of the ancestor , which then advance the development of smaller etymon within a confined area before transplantation .
For a downfall transplanting , source prune in March or early spring for your location ; for a spring transplanting , root prune in October or mid - fall in your location .
Clemson Cooperative Extensionmaintains a tablethat help oneself growers identify the size of root ball required for transplanting dissimilar size of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . For example , if your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree has a 6 - metrical unit branch cattle farm , photograph for a 24 - inch antecedent ball , labor the oceanic abyss 16 inches mystifying and 12 inches away from the trunk all around .
Maintain a Good Moisture Balance
One of the most common reasonableness transplanted Tree do n’t last is unlawful irrigation — either not enough or too much weewee . If your soil is very well - draining or somewhat flaxen , your tree will need more water , while more clayish filth will produce a wetter surround , so your tree will need less water .
Digging Up a Holly Tree
Transplant mean solar day ! Get everything ready and then get to work . Here are the basics :
- Dig the new hole . * * comprehend a hole that ’s 50 percent wider than the expected root nut at a deepness to ensure that the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree will sit down at the same stage as it does in its existing emplacement . Do n’t bestow any supplementary fertilizer or compost to secure that the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree acclimates to the aboriginal soil ’s environment .
splice up the branches . Carefully wind or tie up the branches so they are closer to the tree diagram , not only to protect yourself but to gather well approach to dig out the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Dig a deep around the tree . start extraction by digging a oceanic abyss around the tree about 12 inches from the luggage compartment and as rich as potential to educate to lift as much of the root clump as you’re able to . expend a knifelike spade or shovel to make clean cuts into the roots , which helps see healing . Extract the root ball . This sound gentle than it is ! This will likely entail digging out ground on one side , rocking the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree back and forward several time to key still - join origin , digging out dirt on the other side and then reduplicate .
Tip
Root ball can be gravid . For example , a 15 - inch diameter radical glob can weigh 200 pound . apply a tarp or objet d’art of gunny laid on the earth and drag the root nut onto it . you’re able to then drag it to its raw location without having to fully raise it . For very tumid bushes or tree , enlist the help of professionals .
Transplanting a Holly Tree
Transplant the same day you have dug out the tree to forefend having the roots dry out out . Set the plant in the center of the hole and then add back soil around the root ball and firm it with your hands .
Water immediately , which will settle the soil more . keep to tote up back soil to the hole and tamp the whole thing down with your foot , control that the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is firmly in its young location .
Water again at once . Then , monitor the tree diagram ’s wet carefully over the next few calendar month , trying to maintain even moisture .
