Rose of Sharon can be moved — just wait until September

Q: I think we made a big boo-boo when it came to planting a rose of Sharon bush near the front of our house. It really has grown well, nearly doubled in size in two growing seasons. Now it’s covering about a third of one of the living room windows. At this rate, we won’t have a view out that window in a couple of years. So, we’ve decided to move it before it gets too big. Our question is when? I’m for moving it now, but the wife thinks we should wait a bit. — N.G, Albuquerque

A: I’m gonna side with your wife on this project.

I’m willing to bet the rose of Sharon is blooming now, so it’s concentrating on all that work. I want you to keep a good eye on this thriving plant until the blooming is completed. When its finished, go ahead and give it a fair pruning. Don’t go nuts lopping it down to its original size, but do aim to take off a scant third of the shrub.

Then be patient a bit longer while still maintaining it with regular waterings.

In the meanwhile, scope out the place where you want to replant this shrub. It would be best if you could mimic the sunlight quantities it is receiving now, since this shrub really does grow like gangbusters when offered a lot of sun.

Once you’ve chosen its new home, stake it out so you don’t forget the newly hatched plans you have for the spot. For the time being, allow the spot to sit until late September, then move the rose of Sharon.

Depending on how wide the shrub is after its post-bloom pruning will determine the size of the receiving hole you’ll want to be ready to dig. Let’s say it’s about 3½ feet in diameter, so you’ll want to dig the new home at least that wide. A smidgen wider wouldn’t hurt either, just remember to dig wide and rather shallow as opposed to deep.

A couple of days before the move, use a wheelbarrow to collect all the excavated soil. If that’s not handy, you can lay down a tarp or plastic sheeting to collect the diggings. Plan on adding soil amendments to the excavated soil, making it a happy place for the relocated shrub. Be sure to have liquid root stimulator on hand to help prevent any stress to the shrub.

Next, it’ll be time to dig up your rose of Sharon. Follow the width of the plant all the way around it, making a circle cut. I doubt you’ll run into a lot of roots, but if some of that gets severed, it’s likely the shrub will be fine. Using the spade, as you dig around the shrub, be gently lifting at the same time. Your goal is to lift the shrub and keep as much of its current soil that surrounds the roots as intact as possible. Once you’ve got the baby out of the ground, you’ll be able to determine if you need to dig the new hole deeper or if some of the excavated soil needs to be pushed into the new hole to keep the shrub from being planted too deep.

Your goal is to keep it at the same level, certainly no deeper, as it was planted. You’ll probably have leftover soil, so use that to create a moat wall surrounding the outer edge of the new planting. Set the hose in the moat and allow it to slowly fill. Definitely consider adding a dose of the root stimulator once the shrub has had a good slow drink.

There you go! You’ll have moved a shrub you enjoy and will enjoy even more once it’s in its new home. Just wait until late September.

Happy Diggin’ In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.