7ft high bush needs to go - can I save and move it?

[TracyK]

dh has been nagging me for ages to remove a conifer and 'bush' that stand together at the edge of our grass. I've agreed as it would give us a better view of the climbing frame and play area for ds.
But I quite like the bush thing. Its bushy but a light delicate greeny colour with small leaves - no flowers.

Is it possible for 2 adults to dig it up and move to another part of the garden? or is it just asking for a lot of manual work and then to die anyway?

[WendyWeber]

It might be possible to move it but not at this time of year, I don't think - from my wide gardening knowledge (ie listening to GQT occasionally ) you should only move things in spring or autumn.

If you could find out what it is first that would help.

If just the conifer went would that make enough difference?

[WendyWeber]

This site says November is best, when it's dormant

[prettybird]

It's always worth giving it a go. Is it deciduous? Can't you leave it until autmumn beofre moving it?

Whenever yo decide to move it, make water it well at the moment, so that it is not stressed when you do move it. if you've got some time until you move it, slice the pade down in a cicule arounf the bush, as far out as you think you will be able to dig it. That will vut the routts and force the "inner" routs to start to make extra ones, which will help when you move it.

Pepare the area you are moving it to in advacne of you moving it. Did a good sized hole and dig in some blood, sih an dbone meal to the base of the hole, plus into the earth you will be back filing the hole with. If you have soem nice compast, use that to back fill too.

Try to dig the bush out and trasfer it as quickly as possible. if you#ve got an alo tarpaulin/blanket/thick plastic sheet, that will help to move the root ball. if not, you will need to try to lift it into a wheelbarrow.

Transplt it into the now lcation, backfill with the earth/compost, firm down and then water well.

Depending on what the bush is, it might also helpt o give it a light prune, so that it isn't having to "feed" so many leaves while it re-establshes its roots.

The most improtant thing to do it is to keep it watered after yuo move it.

[prettybird]

I've moved loads of bushes/plants, often at the "wrong" time of year. It is better to do it when they are dormant - but privided you are religious at watering (or the weather is! ), then the plants stand a good chance.

maybe it helps that I live in Scoltand, where there i splanty of rain and the weather is more temperate!

[TracyK]

we're in Scotland too - but it is a south facing garden on a slope - so it gets all (??) the sun and the rain flows away quite quickly. Maybe I'll leave it till the end of summer - lived with it this long so far another couple of months won't make a diff.