Viburnum is famous for being a tough, low-maintenance addition to any garden. But if you want yours to really thrive and show off those signature blooms, it pays to avoid a few common mistakes—even if the plant is pretty forgiving. One of the biggest keys to success? Getting the timing right when you need to move it.
Moving Viburnum in the Fall
Fall is arguably the best time to transplant your viburnum, specifically during September and October. There are a few great reasons why autumn works so well:
- The blooming season is already over.
- It’s the perfect time to prune out any old wood while you’re at it.
- The ground is still workable and hasn’t frozen yet.
When picking a new spot, make sure it still gets plenty of sun or at least partial shade.
Spring Transplanting Tips
You can also move your viburnum in the spring. The main advantage here is that the plant has the entire growing season to establish a strong root system before winter hits again. The trick is to do it before it starts blooming, but after the threat of frost has passed. March is usually your best bet, depending on how the weather is behaving.
Technically, you *can* move it while it’s flowering, but it really saps the plant’s energy. If you want a strong, healthy shrub, try to avoid that extra stress.
Why Other Seasons Can Be Tricky
I’d generally recommend staying away from transplanting in the dead of summer or winter. During the winter, the plant is dormant, and root growth slows to a crawl. Plus, frost can really do a number on a viburnum that hasn’t had a chance to settle into its new home.
In the summer, many varieties are still busy blooming and aren’t focused on growing new roots. If you absolutely have to move it during a heatwave, be prepared to water—a lot! Viburnums are thirsty plants to begin with, and that need only goes up once they’ve been moved.
Repotting Container Viburnums
If you’re growing your viburnum in a pot, you have a bit more flexibility. You can pretty much repot them year-round, as long as it’s not freezing outside (unless you have a frost-free spot to keep them). Just like their garden-dwelling cousins, though, it’s best to avoid repotting while they are in bloom so the plant can focus its energy on its flowers rather than recovering from the move.
