Incorrect transplant - how to fix

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

I asked b/f to help with transplanting two Loropetalum Chinese fringe flower bushes, they were about 5' high last fall before I trimmed them. I wanted to get as many roots as possible, I asked him to come when I'm home so we can do it together and sent a video of transplanting mature bushes so he knows what to do. He came yesterday, I was in the house, it took about 5 min for me to get out of the house. When I did, I saw him standing with an already removed bush with a root ball about 8-10". I was extremely disappointed. I'm sure bush is killed now. I still tried to give it a chance, I took a cardboard box and inserted it in the hole, filled with a lot of potting soil, and planted it in it. Then I trimmed it. I planning to keep it watered all time. Any idea what else can be done? Should I trim it more? This is what it looks like now, circled in red is about the size of the root ball, could be even smaller.

Featured Answer

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

4 years ago

Dig it back up. Remove the cardboard box. Remove the potting soil. Replant in the native soil without any additions. Firm it in and water very well indeed. Then stand back and cross your fingers. Water occasionally in good amounts, not frequently in sips.

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Comments (11)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
Don't trim anything more!! The plant needs all the foliage it has left to muster the energy to regenerate roots. All you can do now is keep it well watered (but do not overwater) and keep out of direct sunlight until it starts to push new growth. If it does.......wrong time of year for this and seriously compromised rootball makes survival iffy at best.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years ago
dig it back up .... remove the box.. and replant it in native soil ... with no amendments ...

you are responsible for all water this year.. and next year in drought ...

review the link below ...

where are you ... big city name ...

it might be helpful come july and august.. if you can rig up some shade ...

it is extremely stressed... not hungry.. fert is not a response at this time... and just put away the shears and stop cutting on it ....

ken

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub
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starlinka
Original Author
4 years ago
'where are you ... big city name ...'

NC, eastern
starlinka
Original Author
4 years ago
OK, I will try this. I did transplanting before, a few years old boxwoods, for example, lined the new hole with potting mix ( it was more like a mixture of native soil/potting mix), I thought it should help. They did fine. But root balls were a good size.
starlinka
Original Author
4 years ago
BTW, it's a sunny area, should I move it to a big pot instead and keep it in shade for now?
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Why disturb it twice? I’d plant it where I wanted it, providing it’s a suitable spot for the species. Make sure it gets adequate water and shade it if necessary.

Some reading on the myth of planting hole amendment: https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/soil-amendments.pdf
linaria_gw
4 years ago
after that you can "feed the soil", keep mulching with leaves or lawn cuttings, improving the whole area. Adding organic matter to the surface usually helps to improve the soil structure in the long run.
starlinka
Original Author
4 years ago
There lot of new leaves popping out in this bush - is this a good sign? Should I remove it? I saw a video where somebody recommends removing new grown from transplanted bushes/trees. There are also a few new flowers popped out. It bloomed like 3 weeks ago, but then we had frost at night, and then this transplant, so they all died initially.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
New leaves are a very good sign!! And ignore that video!! The plant needs all the foliage it can muster to regenerate roots disturbed or destroyed by transplanting.

I really wish there was some way of filtering or monitoring gardening videos before they appear online. 99% of them are pure garbage!!
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
4 years ago
Leave the plant alone to do its thing. Enjoy the new growth and stop watching videos other than from reputable sources e.g. academic institutions, botanical gardens etc.