moving hydrangea?

[insertimaginativeusername]

Just that really...garden has some mature hydrangeas that have slipped over time (bit of a sloped border) and one died a while ago so leaves a gap. I'd like to move them around to balance the border out.

Is this ok to do this time of year? Any tips for ensuring I don't kill them off?

Thanks

[M0rven]

How big are they ? Personally I'd move them later in the year when they are dormant .

Are they the kind you prune hard or lightly ?

[insertimaginativeusername]

About 3-4 feet wide?

I don't know if they are the sort that can be/are supposed to be pruned hard, but they take my gung ho approach to pruning very well and have come back every year

[M0rven]

I'm guessing they are in flower now, so many you could post a photo ?

[CuttedUpPear]

Before you move it, give it your hard prune and make some cuttings out of the prunings.
That way if it doesn't survive, you'll have substitute plants.

[M0rven]

You could root prune it now , in preparation for moving it in February .

If you prune hard every spring and it still flowers that year , then it must be Hydrangea paniculata , as they flower on new wood . If it flowers on the old wood and you prune hard in spring, you lose the flowers that year .

Also the root ball will be huge and heavy , it will take two people to move it( I'm assuming you have a clay soil )

[insertimaginativeusername]

I'm not able to post a photo right now but your are right, it is clay soil so I will enlist some help for the big move!

I will root some as you say though just in case they don't appreciate it. Thank you for the helpful advice.

[Ferguson]

These links might help:

www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/

www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/pruning.html

[funnyperson]

brilliant link!

[FeelsLikeHome123]

According to a local gardener on the radio last week, they don't like to be moved but if you do move them, make sure to take a large amount of earth around them so you don't damage the roots

[WelliesAndPyjamas]

Sounds like a big job! I moved a smallish hydrangea bush about three years ago, it survived, and is still fine.