How to Transplant a Rose of Sharon Bush
Hardy in zones 5 to 8, rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) produces bright showy blossoms in shades of white, red, pink, violet and blue. Rose of Sharon is a hardy bush that can tolerate a range of soil pH, light exposure and watering. Transplant your rose of Sharon in the spring or fall if you live in an area that experiences winter cold. Hot summers and cold winters are stressful and potentially dangerous times to transplant bushes.
Water your rose of Sharon for two to three days before you decide to transplant it, watering until the soil becomes moist. This helps loosen the roots so you'll have an easier time digging out the plant.
Select a new location for your rose of Sharon. A mature shrub can grow 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide so choose a location that offers enough space for the mature tree. Rose of Sharon grows in full or part sun.
- Hardy in zones 5 to 8, rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) produces bright showy blossoms in shades of white, red, pink, violet and blue.
- Water your rose of Sharon for two to three days before you decide to transplant it, watering until the soil becomes moist.
Dig a hole at the new spot using a shovel. Create a hole that's twice as large as the rose of Sharon's root ball. Remove any rocks, sticks or weeds from the hole.
To estimate the size of a planted shrub's root ball, GardenLine suggests using the formula of 9 to 12 inches of root ball per inch of shrub-trunk diameter.
Tie up the branches on your rose of Sharon bush with twine by winding the twine around the bushes and then tying it off. This will help mitigate any damage that may occur during the transplant process.
Dig a shovel into the earth at twice the estimated distance of the plant's root ball. If you suspect your rose of Sharon has a 24-inch root ball, begin digging in a 48-inch circle around the base of the tree. Stick your shovel into the dirt and pull up to loosen the soil. Begin to dig down toward the root ball. As you get close you'll see the roots emerge. Continue to work in this manner until you have successfully gathered all of the bush's roots into a ball of soil under the bush.
- Dig a hole at the new spot using a shovel.
- Continue to work in this manner until you have successfully gathered all of the bush's roots into a ball of soil under the bush.
Pull up on the bush trunk to get the bush clear of the ground. If one or two roots refuse to come loose, cut them with your spade. Place the bush into a wheelbarrow and wheel it over to the new site.
Place the rose of Sharon in its new hole so it's sitting at the same depth in the soil. Check to make sure the bush is straight vertically. Fill in the hole with soil when you're satisfied with the bush's placement.
Water the newly transplanted bush until the soil becomes saturated with water and compresses around the trunk of the shrub.
- Pull up on the bush trunk to get the bush clear of the ground.
Untie the twine that binds the branches.
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