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Moving rhododendron

Tilly-mintTilly-mint Posts: 7
in Plants

Hi,

Can anyone tell me the best time to move my enormous rhododendron?

Its absolutely covered in buds at the moment and was beautiful when in flower last year but its in totally the wrong place and was hoping to move it sooner rather than later as I have plans for the spot its in.

 

Posts

  • Dave MorganDave Morgan Posts: 3,123

    Best time is just after flowering Tilly.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,142

    I agree - after flowering - but you can start preparing the site where it's going now - a decent sized area with lots of added organic matter dug in, then when you dig it up with a huge rootball and plant it and water it in well it will hardly notice it's been moved.

    Good luck and mind your back! image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Are you guaranteeing that hot summer Verd?  image

    I'm shifting one too - to the great compost bin in the sky so it can wait till after flowering. I could easily do that even if I was keeping it, because we'll get suitable conditions, but I'd agree with Verdun - it will need to be cut back if it's big anyway, so nothing to lose by shifting it now, and if you have dry conditions - everything to gain. I'd mulch well afterwards, to retain moisture until it's well established. 

    When you say big - are you talking 7 or 8 feet or is it smaller than that?

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    can I just take a step back and ask how big "enormous" is?

    I'd agree with Verdun. I'd move before flowering, having removed buds .

    Flowering takes up a huge amount of energy which would be better put into new root growth.

    Devon.
  • Tilly-mintTilly-mint Posts: 7

    Thanks for all the replies!!

    I would say it measures about 6 x 6 feet. I'm dithering about what to do with it as I don't want to kill the poor thing, only move it to a different part of the garden. I want to put a tree in its place. 

    I must confess to being new to gardening and am probably being a bit more careful than I need be...

    However, I don't think I can wait until after flowering so will probably take the risk and move it now....

     

     

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114
    You will need to water it. And then water it again. And then water it again. They are very shallow rooting.
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