Why hydrangeas are taking over our gardens and how to transplant them

Lately, hydrangeas have been appearing extremely often in many gardens. Sometimes, however, a beautiful shrub is planted in the wrong location. How should we go about transplanting them?

Hydrangeas are exceptional plants that delight the eye with their colorful blooms. Nonetheless, their care and transplanting require proper knowledge and diligence. We offer tips on how to properly prepare for the hydrangea transplanting process and how to carry it out step by step.

The best time to transplant hydrangeas is in early spring or late fall. During this time, plants are dormant, which minimizes the stress associated with transplanting.

Before starting to transplant hydrangeas, make sure the plant is adequately watered. Well-watered roots adapt more quickly to new soil conditions. It is also worth preparing the necessary tools: a garden shovel, protective gloves, and organic fertilizer.

Let’s look at properly transplanting a shrubby (tree-like) hydrangea. First, trim the shrub to 6 inches above the ground. Then, with the help of a spade, gently cut and undercut the roots around the shrub in such a way as to obtain a movable "ball" formed from soil and roots. It is essential not to remove the soil surrounding the roots. Next, place the hydrangea in its new spot.

A small tip: it is worth adding fertilizer to the hole and mixing it with the soil after digging. The hole should be a little over twice as deep as the size of your seedling. After mixing the fertilizer, place the seedling in the hole and gently fill the hole halfway with soil using the shovel. Then add the remaining fertilizer and cover the hole completely with soil. For hydrangeas, it’s good to leave a watering basin around the seedling.