title: Can You Successfully Transplant a Thuja?
Whether you’ve realized your arborvitae is in a bad spot or you’re just ready for a total garden makeover, you might be wondering if you can move your Thuja to a new home. The short answer? It’s possible, but it’s a bit of a gamble. Here’s the lowdown on what you need to know before you grab your shovel.
Can You Actually Move a Thuja?
Thujas are shallow-rooted plants, meaning their root systems spread out wide rather than deep. These roots are pretty sensitive—they don’t handle major damage well. If you have a young Thuja, you can usually dig it up and move it without too much drama. However, for older, established trees, the sheer size of the root ball makes it a massive challenge. It’s even trickier with a hedge, where the roots of individual plants often intertwine. In most cases, moving an established hedge is a “no-go.”
How to Transplant Your Thuja the Right Way
To give your “Tree of Life” the best shot at surviving the move, you need a solid game plan. You’ll want to focus on three main things:
- Timing (the season)
- The new location
- Your technique
When is the best time to move an arborvitae?
Spring is hands-down the best time to transplant a Thuja. Once it’s in its new home, it’s going to be thirsty—it needs extra water to help those roots settle in. Early fall is your second-best bet, but if you go that route, make sure to provide some winter protection. Don’t forget to keep watering it during the winter on days when the ground isn’t frozen. Avoid transplanting during the height of summer or the dead of winter.
Picking the perfect new spot
Thujas don’t handle “moving day” well, so you really want to get the new location right the first time. Look for a spot that offers:
- Full sun to partial shade
- Protection from heavy winds
- Loose, moist soil
- A soil pH that isn’t too acidic
To prep the area, dig deep and turn the soil over well. Clear out any old roots, weeds, or large rocks. Mixing in some compost or well-rotted manure along with some horn meal will give your tree a great head start. If your soil is heavy clay, adding some fine gravel can help improve drainage.
Step-by-step: How to move your Thuja
Pro tip: Thujas are much easier to dig up when the soil is moist all the way down. Give the tree a deep soak a few days before the big move. Also, try to pick a cloudy day for the transplant—this prevents the sensitive roots from getting “sunburned” while they’re exposed.
- At the new site, dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball.
- Use a spade to cut into the soil in a circle around the tree.
- Carefully lift the tree from underneath using a garden fork.
- Gently pull it out of the ground, keeping as much soil attached to the roots as possible.
- Now you’re ready to plant your Thuja in its new home. If you have to move it across the yard, wrap the root ball in burlap or a planting bag to keep the soil intact during transit.
