Rhododendrons?

Does any gardener know if I can dig up and replant Rhododendrons in another location without damaging them?

Rhododendrons?
Yes you can transplant them but not in the Autumn as you would for deciduous plants but in Late spring. The reason is that as these plants carry foliage all year when you dig them up you will break off some of the smaller roots which take in moisture. An autumn transplanted evergreen will not have enough time to put out roots to take in this moisture before the onset of winter. It's not the cold that kills them it's the wind. This causes the leaves to dry out much the same as washing on a clothes line and the disturbed root system cannot replace this water quick enough. Result dried out brown leaves.





By planting in the Spring the weather will not be as harsh as through the autumn and winter and the plant, as it is now comming back into growth from it's winter rest has all year to put out it's roots before next winter comes around.





Dig a big enough rootball up with your plant. The finer roots will be at the drip line on the plant (the outer edges of the leaves). Lift the plant onto a sheet if it is large to transport it. Dig a larger hole than the rootball, where you intend to plant it, and make sure to loosen the earth in the hole so that the roots have the best chance to develope. Test the soil with a soil tester (approx £1.25in U.K). It should be read on the acid side of neutral. Look on the back of the tester pack for guidelines. Mix in some Ericaceous compost with the excavated soil. Place your Rhodo in the hole and replant to the same depth as you excavated it. Firm in well and water. After about 2 weeks when the plant has settled down top dress with Sulphate of Iron (£1.25 per kilo), 2oz per sq yd. Keep well watered through the summer making sure to hose down the plant as well when you water it as this will help prevent the leaves from drying out. Hope this helps and good luck.
Reply:As long as it isn't a monster-sized plant, then you have every chance of a sucessful transplant.
Reply:Here in western Washington (where the rhododendron is the state flower...!) people transplant "rhodies" all the time. Just be sure to get enough soil around the roots to keep from damaging them, and keep the plant moist after the transplant. Using a bit of root stimulator on the plant also helps. You can also take cuttings and root them in soil using rooting hormone powder; it works very well.
Reply:You have really got to look after them..they are not very hardy. I bought a small bush from garden centre which was in a sale..and now it's quite dead.
Reply:Wait until late autumn and dig out as much of the root ball as


possible. prepare the new planting site first making sure the soil pH is no more than 5. Water well and hope!
Reply:I'm not sure about rodos specifically, but it is usually recommended to transplant when the plant is dormant if possible. Since rodos keep their leaves you'll have to judge by the surrounding deciduous plants %26amp; after their leaves have fallen it should be safe to say the rodo is dormant. You have the least chance of transplant shock when they are dormant.


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Reply:Yes, provided that you replant them in the autumn and use a very good acid soil the ph must be acid for these plants(lots of sandy clay washed grit love lots of moisture).
Reply:I moved last september. I transplanted my rhododendrons. The leaves turned a little brown at first but I put fertilizer on the soil and they came back just fine this spring.


Good luck!
Reply:Unlikely - most rhododendrons are fairly shallow rooted and don't tolerate root disturbance very well. You're better off taking cuttings and using those rather than moving established plants.
Reply:Yes, move them now, make sure you move with a large root ball, trim off any broken/damaged roots, prune back , you may also have to use a good sturdy stake as well as any strong winds over the winter will rock the shrub and hinder the shrub from settling down after the move, keep watered and feed early spring.
Reply:Yes, because there roots are shallow, I've found them easy to move. Just make a very wide hole, they may not have deep roots, but they're broad. RScott