If you are moving from one home to another, but your new home is not ready for the move yet, you may need to place your belongings into storage and find a temporary housing situation. If you need to do this, then you may not think that you can take some of the bushes from your yard for replanting. However, you may be able to actually place them in your storage unit for a short period of time. Keep reading to learn how to do this.
Identify & Dig Up the Shrub
The first thing you need to do when considering on replanting a shrub or bush is to figure out if it can be successfully transplanted in the first place. A successful replantation will require you to reduce transplant shock as much as possible. This type of shock typically occurs due to root damage, and the very small and thin roots are the ones that are most likely to be cut and damaged. These small and fragile roots have tiny hairs that are responsible for pulling water into the plant. If too many of these roots are damaged, then the bush is likely to die. While deep roots can typically be dug up and balled close to the thicker tap roots, this is not possible if the bush has many lateral or horizontal roots. These roots are likely to become exposed to the air during the digging process for too long, and this will lead to root death. These wide reaching roots are also likely to be fibrous, shallow, and weak.
Viburnums, gardenias, boxwoods, holly, hydrangeas, barberries, and lilacs are a few of the bush varieties that have shallow roots. These types of shrubs are best left in place. You also need to think about moving only bushes that do not need full sun, since the storage space will be quite dark. Some shade-loving shrubs include dogwood, spirea, ninebark, elderberry, daphne, and sweatspire bushes. Basically, if it has been living in a mostly shaded area and has a thick root system, then consider transplanting the bush temporarily into your storage space.
Before you do your digging, try to figure out the size of the root ball you will need to dig up and create on the bottom of the shrub. Typically, you will need a root ball that is about 10 to 12 inches in diameter for every inch of trunk thickness. If the bush has thin branches, then opt for a 12 inch diameter ball for a smaller bush and about a 24 inch diameter one for a larger bush. Work your way around the bush with the shovel and gently lift the bush out of the hole. Wrap the soil and root ball in burlap to keep the roots together and place the bush in a large pot.
Store the Shrub
Place the potted shrub in the storage unit. You will need to check on the shrub often to make sure that the soil around the root ball remains moist. However, the burlap will help to keep moisture in the soil, and too much water may lead to mold growing around the roots. This means you should not overwater the shrub. Check with your fingers every few days to see if the soil is dry. If it is, only water the root ball until it is moist. Also, if the outside weather is humid and moisture seems to build in the storage space, then set a battery-powered dehumidifier in the space. This will help to reduce the chances of mold growing.
If the environment is dry in the storage space and you are completing the transplantation during the colder fall months, then the root ball may dry out quickly. To help the burlap, soil, and roots retain water, make sure to place chipped bark mulch inside the pot. Garden compost may help with moisture retention and nutrition as well. While you may not be able to visit your storage space every day, you will need to attend to the watering needs of the bush diligently. If the bush receives too much or too little water, it may not survive after being replanted. For more tips or suggestions, contact companies like I-70 Self Storage.
