Not every ornamental shrub is a fan of moving day, but luckily, weigelas are pretty tough cookies. They handle being transplanted much better than many of their garden neighbors. Whether your shrub needs a change of scenery or you’re redesigning your backyard, here’s the lowdown on how to move your weigela without the stress.
Why move a weigela in the first place?
There are plenty of reasons to give your shrub a new home. If your weigela is in a spot it doesn’t like, it might stop blooming altogether. In that case, moving it is the best way to get those flowers back. Other common reasons include:
- The garden is getting too crowded.
- You’re doing a total landscape makeover.
- You want to break up a dense area of the yard.
- You’re moving it to start a hedge.
Does the weigela handle the move well?
If your weigela is still a “youngster,” it’ll handle the move quite well, provided you’re careful with the roots. However, as these shrubs get older, they get a bit more set in their ways. Ideally, you want to transplant them before they hit the four-year mark; after that, the moving process gets a lot trickier for the plant.
When is the best time to transplant?
Timing is everything! The best windows for moving a weigela are in the early spring or the fall. To keep the roots from drying out or getting shocked, try to pick a cloudy day that isn’t too hot. If you decide on a fall move, just make sure to give it some extra protection during its first winter in the new spot.
How to transplant your weigela step-by-step
Weigelas have shallow root systems with a lot of fine, delicate fibers. The goal is to keep that root ball as intact as possible to help the plant bounce back quickly. Here’s how to do it right:
- Carefully dig up the weigela, trying to keep the root ball whole.
- At the new spot, dig a hole about 1.5 times wider than the root ball.
- Loosen up the soil at the bottom and sides of the new hole.
- Mix in some compost to give your weigela a nice nutrient boost for its fresh start.
- Place the shrub in the hole and fill it back in with soil.
- Give it a good soak immediately, and keep the soil consistently moist for the first few weeks while it settles in.
