How to transplant a hydrangea in the summer to a new place

Hydrangea is one of the most attractive perennials with abundant flowering. This shrub rather painfully endures any transplant, but sometimes it still becomes necessary to transfer it to another place. The most suitable time for this is autumn and spring, in extreme cases, you can transplant hydrangeas in the summer, but you can face big problems.

Is it possible to transplant hydrangea in summer

Hydrangeas are transplanted to a new place during the dormant period, in early spring, before the start of the growing season, and in autumn. The summer months, especially July and August, are a period of intensive growth of shoots and abundant flowering, at which time metabolic processes occur especially quickly in the plant. Any intervention during this period can cause severe stress in the shrub, the hydrangea will simply drop the flowers, and in some cases it may die. Therefore, transplantation in the summer is carried out only in case of emergency, with the threat of plant death (for example, a flower interferes with construction on the site).

Summer transplantation is most often a necessary measure.

Why do I need a hydrangea transplant in the summer to another place

Most often, hydrangeas may need a transplant in the summer in case of emergency. Unfortunately, life situations often develop in such a way that the performance of some work has to be postponed at the wrong time. A summer transplant may be required for these flowers in the following cases:

1. It is urgent to free up space in the garden (changing the layout, erecting new buildings, laying communications, storing materials, etc.).
2. The plant turned out to be in the wrong place due to some natural causes or weather disasters (for example, the site was flooded, the landscape changed, etc.).
3. The owner is selling the garden or house and does not want to leave the flower to the new owners.
4. There is a serious threat of hydrangea disease from other bushes growing in close proximity.

When to transplant hydrangeas in summer

Transplanting hydrangeas in any month in the summer is a very big risk. If possible, it is better to wait until the bushes have completely faded. Usually, the flowering of most varieties of this plant ends by the end of August, so it is better to transplant at the same time.

Transplantation is best done after flowering.

In emergency cases, flowering shrubs are also transplanted. However, the chances of a successful outcome of such an operation are much less.

How to transplant a hydrangea in the summer to a new place

Young hydrangea bushes up to 5 years old tolerate transplanting quite well. The older the bush, the more difficult it will be for him to adapt to a new place.

Selection and preparation of the landing site

For the normal growth of hydrangeas, the site for planting them must have the following characteristics:

1. Illumination. Hydrangeas love plenty of light, but direct sunlight can cause them to burn. The light should be soft, diffused. These shrubs also grow well in partial shade, but in this case the number of inflorescences on them decreases. Plants growing in the shade may not bloom at all.
2. The soil. The soil at the landing site should be loose, well-drained, moderately moist. Hydrangea does not tolerate stagnant water, so you can not plant it in wetlands and where water accumulates after rain. Groundwater should come to the surface no closer than 1 m. It is important that the soil has an acidic reaction; on sandy and carbonate lands, the shrub will be very sick. The optimal pH level of the soil under hydrangeas is from 4 to 5,5.
3. Air temperature. Many species of these plants do not tolerate frost well, especially its most decorative, large-leaved varieties. The landing site should be protected from the cold north wind.

Preparing hydrangeas for transplanting in the summer

Preparatory measures for transplanting hydrangeas take quite a lot of time and require considerable effort. In summer, transplantation is carried out only with a clod of earth on the roots, and the larger it is, the greater the chance of a favorable outcome. Planting holes must be dug in advance. Their dimensions should be several times greater than the size of an earthen coma on a shrub that is to be transplanted.

The soil should be loose and well-drained

To fill the pits after transplantation, a mixture of upland and peat is prepared. At the bottom of the pit, a drainage layer of fragments of brick, expanded clay or crushed stone is necessarily poured.

Rules for transplanting hydrangeas in the summer

It is important to understand that in the summer, during the transplantation process, the root system of the hydrangea bush will be damaged one way or another. This will cause a malnutrition of the aerial part of the flower, the roots of the plant simply cannot cope with such a load. To reduce it, all flower stalks and buds must be cut off, since the plant will drop them anyway after planting. Shoots also need to be cut to half the length.

Before transplanting, cut off all inflorescences

In summer, hydrangeas are transplanted on a cloudy day. The root zone is shed with water in advance, and then the bush is dug in from all sides approximately along the projection of the crown, trying to injure the roots as little as possible and keep a clod of earth on them. The plant dug out of the ground is transported to the landing site on a trolley or carried by hand on a piece of tarpaulin. It needs to be planted immediately. The bush is installed in the planting hole, if necessary, adding a little soil so that the root collar of the plant remains flush with the soil surface.

The remaining voids are covered with soil. Having filled the planting hole completely, intensive watering of the hydrangea bush is carried out, and then the soil surface around the bush is mulched with the bark of coniferous trees or dry pine or spruce needles. In addition to retaining moisture in the soil, mulching with such materials contributes to the acidification of the soil.

Potted species tolerate summer transplanting much better.

Hydrangeas grown as potted plants are less likely to get into trouble when they need to be transplanted in the summer. Unlike garden plants, they tolerate this procedure much easier. However, even here it is necessary to be careful and be sure to keep a whole earthen ball on the roots. If the root system was not damaged when removed from the container, then the result is likely to be positive. Despite this, it is recommended to transship potted plants in the spring, in April.

How to feed a hydrangea in the summer after a transplant

After a summer transplant, hydrangeas do not need to be fed. The growth and flowering of the shrub should not be provoked, because its root system is greatly weakened. A small amount of potash and phosphorus mineral fertilizers can be added to the composition of the nutrient soil, which is used to cover the root system of a hydrangea bush during transplantation. However, this should only be done if the soil is initially poor. It should be remembered that the use of mineral fertilizers during transplantation can lead to a burn of its roots, many of which will inevitably be damaged during transplantation. Therefore, it is better to wait for the result, make sure that the transplant was successful, and in the fall, feed the bushes with rotted manure or humus.

Care after landing

After transplanting, hydrangea bushes need rest and moderate watering. You need to navigate this issue according to the weather and, if there is not enough atmospheric moisture, periodically moisten the soil with settled rainwater. In the heat, about 1 time per week, it is necessary to sprinkle the plants in the evening. You should also cover the transplanted bushes from direct sunlight, shading them with special screens made of paper or fabric.

Transplanted hydrangeas need regular watering.

Conclusion

It is possible to transplant a hydrangea in the summer, however, such a procedure at this time is possible only in exceptional cases. The shrub will recover for a rather long time, while flowering in the next season should not be expected from it. In some cases, an unfavorable outcome is also possible, the hydrangea may die. Therefore, it is so important to initially choose the right place for landing, and if you transplant to a new place, then only at the optimal time for this.