Test soil before transplanting shrubs, trees

By Audrey Post
MS. GROW-IT-ALL

Q: I have some sasanquas that are about three feet tall that I would like to transplant. I have tried three times and each time the shrub died. I get as large a root ball as I can and water them regularly but so luck so far. Any suggestions?

A: It could be one of several things, or a combination of them. Do the sasanquas like the new location? Sasanquas, which are a type of camellia, need partial shade and slightly acidic soil. Too much or too little sunlight will cause your shrubs to decline, as will a soil that’s alkaline. Make sure the new location meets the plant’s needs.

Before you transplant your shrubs, invest in a soil test. You can pick up everything you need – instructions, soil sample bags and a small cardboard box for mailing – at your county extension office; in Leon County, the extension office is at 615 Paul Russell Road. The cost is minimal and it’s much cheaper than the price of a new sasanqua.

If possible, prepare the entire planting bed instead of an individual planting hole. Spade or till 8 to 12 inches deep and mix inpeat, compost or other organic matter. Based on the results of your soil test, add any fertilizer, micronutrients or acidifying materials that might be needed.

When you dig the planting hole, make it two to three times the diameter of the root ball and just deep enough for the plant to sit at the same depth it did before. Don’t work the soil any deeper because it could cause the root ball to settle, which would make it too deep.

You say you water them regularly but what would be sufficient water for an established plant isn’t enough for one that has just been moved. Make sure you build a collar of soil around the plant, out about as far as the drip-line, to form a basin. This will direct water to the roots instead of allowing it to run off. And unless we’ve had plenty of rain, water it at least every other day so that the soil is moist to a depth of 12-14 inches. This will encourage deep root growth, which helps shrubs survive drought. Cover with a layer of mulch that’s 2 to 3 inches deep.

It’s a little late in the season to transplant sasanquas, the ideal time being November through February to allow the root systems to become established before summer heat arrives. If you decide to move them now, keeping your shrubs well-watered will be critical.