Those that adore gardening and landscaping are likely familiar with boxwoods. Boxwoods are somewhat hardy shrubs that many people use to adorn the outside of their homes and businesses with greenery.
Boxwoods have the potential to grow quite large, so it’s not uncommon for owners to want or need to move them to more giant planters or a different location.
Because of their size, it can be challenging to know when it’s the exact right time to move them, leaving many gardeners asking when to transplant boxwoods.
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When to Transplant Boxwoods?
The best time to transplant your boxwoods is late winter, before the spring growth, or during the early fall before the ground freezes.
Knowing When the Time is Right
Boxwoods that are young and smaller in size likely don’t need to be moved unless you’ve found you want them in a different spot.
These plants are lovely to keep outside the home, as they add a beautiful pop of green, even in the winter months.
If you’ve just had a landscaping company come and put in your boxwoods, you won’t have to move them any time soon. They’re probably mature plants and have been spaced professionally to stay healthy while keeping your house looking amazing.
If you’ve paid for landscaping, you’ll probably want to have the company you hired to move your plants should it become necessary.
On the other hand, if you’ve planted and grown your boxwoods, you’ll know when it’s time to move them based on their size and the space they need. These great shrubs take their time maturing, but they do get quite large.
When you plant boxwood, you’ll want to make sure that you’ve left them room to grow and expand. They don’t need to be moved unless they’ve run out of space or you’re changing the look of your landscaping.
You can move established boxwoods as long as you do so with care and resist moving them constantly. It does take some time to reestablish that root system, so be sure to give them the time they need.
Successfully Transplanting a Boxwood
Choosing the right time to transplant is essential to the health of your shrub. Boxwoods, primarily large ones that are ready to move, have a complicated root system established under the soil.
Most of the roots will be located in the top twelve inches of earth, so dig your boxwood up with care.
You can begin to dig up the ground around your boxwood in early fall or very late winter. Either way, the land should be thawed enough that you can reach the roots that have grown underneath without destroying the plant in the process.
You’ll need a few heavy-duty gardening tools, including a spade shovel. Keep in mind that mature boxwoods that are ready to move are heavy, so you’ll likely need someone to help you dig and lift.
Digging Around the Boxwood
Make sure you dig around your boxwood carefully. While it won’t be the end of the world if a few roots are ruined, the boxwood will need to hang on to a majority of its root system in order to reestablish it.
While digging, you’ll want to ensure that you leave a giant ball around the roots. Remember that the roots may extend quite a way away from the boxwood, depending on where you’ve got the plant located.
When your boxwood is big enough to move, take care to begin digging in an 18-inch circle around the plant.
Don’t worry too much about any roots that you cut through, as this action will encourage your boxwood to build a more intricate root system closer to the trunk.
When you approach digging up your boxwood with this method, it will be easier for you to move it again, if necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions about When to Transplant Boxwoods
When is the best time to transplant boxwood?
When it comes to boxwoods, it’s more about the time of year rather than the size of the plant. However, you don’t want to move a boxwood that’s immature without a substantial root system. If you have questions, be sure to contact your local landscaper or gardening specialist.
Will transplanting my boxwood kill it?
It’s unlikely that you’ll kill your boxwood when you transplant it, as long as you are careful and allow it to maintain a bulk of the root system. Give it plenty of space wherever you’re moving it.
Will my boxwood survive the cold?
Boxwoods are hardy and can withstand winter. There is no need to attempt to bring them inside during the colder months, though many gardeners do cover them to keep them out of the harsher elements.
Understanding Replanting a Boxwood
As with all plants, transplanting a boxwood should be done carefully concerning the roots and the plant itself. Every spear of the shovel should be exemplary.
Know where you’re digging, and have the perfect, pre-dug location ready for your boxwood. Don’t worry too much about your boxwood thriving after you move it.
Reestablishing will come with time.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.