If you’re thinking about moving your wisteria to a new spot in the yard, I’ll be honest with you: it’s going to be a bit of a workout! These plants are famous for their aggressive root systems, which don’t always like being disturbed. But don’t worry—with a little patience and the right technique, you can successfully transplant your wisteria. Here’s how to get it done.
Understanding Wisteria Roots
To move a wisteria, you first have to understand what’s going on underground. Wisteria roots are a double threat: they grow deep taproots that anchor the plant firmly in the earth, but they also send out long, shallow lateral roots that spread far and wide. To move one successfully, you’ll need to dig up as much of that root ball as possible without causing too much damage. It takes some elbow grease and the right tools, but it’s definitely doable!
Here’s your shopping list for the big move:
- Sturdy gardening gloves
- A reliable shovel
- A garden saw or a sharp spade
- Garden lime
- High-quality potting soil or compost
How to Transplant Your Wisteria
First things first: safety. Keep in mind that wisteria is actually toxic. While you’d generally have to ingest the seeds or flowers to get sick, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when handling the plant. Make sure you’ve got your heavy-duty gloves on before you start. Because the roots are so incredibly strong on older plants, you won’t just be digging—you’ll likely need to prune the roots back a bit to get the plant out of the ground.
Before you start digging, give the top of the plant a good pruning. This makes the whole thing much easier to manage. Once the foliage is trimmed back, carefully dig around the base to lift the plant.
Now, let’s talk about the new location. Dig a hole that’s plenty big enough and prep the soil with some mature compost and a bit of garden lime. The lime is a great trick—it encourages root development and helps the plant settle in faster. I also highly recommend installing a root barrier at this stage to keep your wisteria from taking over the rest of the garden. Once it’s in the ground, fill it in and give it a very thorough watering.
In the weeks following the move, keep a close eye on the water levels. You want to keep the soil moist and maybe add a little fertilizer to help it along, but be careful to avoid standing water—wisteria hates “wet feet,” which can lead to root rot. Because of its natural growth habit, your wisteria should start stretching out in its new home before you know it!
