Transplanting

Hello everyone

Going to look at the delicate art of transplanting shrubs, trees and perennials today.
As most would agree Winter is the best time to disturb the roots of most plants when they are dormant, especially deciduous trees and shrubs. Perennials, once they have died back and become dormant in the winter, can be liflted from the ground and given a jolly good beating without them being remotely aware of it, other than a slight headache when they wake up in the spring. Evergreens can be moved successfully in Winter, Spring and Autumn as can most things the trick is to maintain a balance between surface area of leaf and surface area of root.
No matter how careful you are when digging something out of the ground, some root will always be damaged. To compensate for this damage to the roots we have to damage the top growth to. Sounds a bit harsh but think about it, if its a big bushy plant covered in leaf what are those leaves doing? Losing water! Thats right, they transpire, or exhale moisture if you like, through those tiny pores in the leaf. Meanwhile down below a damaged root system is trying to heal itself and take up water at the same time. If the surface area of leaf is greater than the surface area of root then the plant will wilt. It's losing water quiker than it can take it up, a classic imbalance. No amount of water seems to perk it up again. If you dont do something quick it'll be a gonner. Take the shears to it and cut off some leafy growth.
It's a million to one shot but it might just work. And just like in the movies those million to one shots seem to work out just fine and dandy. This is starting to sound like the script from a 50's B movie.
So if you are planning to move something consider this vital piece of information. Water well, prune first, then lift and transplant. Water well again in the new situation.
If you look at the gardening by the moon site in my link list they will suggest specific times of the month for transplanting. Usually near the full moon when the growth is going into the stems and leaves and the roots are resting.