Can I move evergreen bushes

[MellowMarshmallow]

I don't know anything about gardening.

I've got two evergreen shrubs in the back garden.

One currently has bright yellow leaves and is beautiful. E others always a very dark green then has tiny red flowers in Spring I think. They've both been there about 4 years and are around 3 foot tall.

I am trying to grow shrubs in front of the house for privacy but a just wondering if I could simply move these two.

Any help much appreciated. This is when I really really miss my Nan. She would've loved helping me with this project.

Bad time of year for moving shrubs,buy if you can dig a big enough rootball out,& be prepared to keep watering it you should be alright.
Or wait until early winter when your chances of success will be higher.

Not buy,But.

Thanks. It's still quite cold here if that helps?

I thought you moved evergreens in the spring and deciduous shrubs in the autumn?

Can you upload a photo?

My first photo upload on MN....

they look all straggly up close. They look nicer from the kitchen window.

They do look nice.

I don't recognise them, I'll have a think.

Perhaps somebody else will come along and identify them.

I've had a google and I think they are

Euonymus fortunei
and a Skimmia.

I've found conflicting advice about moving them. Some say that early Spring is OK. The plants have only just woken up round here, and we're a long way from hot days, and its going to a shady, sheltered spot anyway, so I'm tempted to risk it. They're doing nothing for me where they are now anyway, and I would've thought they would suffer more if I do it in the Autumn then we get a cold snap.

Hmmmm. Talking myself into it really.

Worse case scenario, we put a lot of effort into moving them, they die, neighbours point and laugh.

Best case scenario, we move them, surround them by the new plants I've just bought to put out the front and enjoy an instant front garden.

Prepare ground well for them, with compost and bit of fertiliser, try to get most, if not all, the root out, water in well and mulch to keep moisture in, and they should be OK I think.

great thanks. cant wait to see dh's face when he hears what I have planned for this weekend

Give them a really good water (drench them) a couple of hours before moving them too. Dig out as big a rootball as you can manage. And keep an eye on them over the next couple of weeks, they might need watering esp if it warms up or doesn't rain much.

Good luck! Dh always groans when I start muttering about moving stuff but it usually works ok.

I agree with all of the above - but remember that the root mass is approximately the same size as the shrub, and you really do want to get most of it...

I would also cut them back after planting them. That way they don't have as much top growth to support while they are getting established and they will get there sooner. They will grow back in no time anyway if they make it.

does the plant mind being cut back? I don't want to cause it too much upset.

Yes, you can prune evergreen shrubs.

look at this

Thanks all. I've broken the news to dh and he's taken it well. quite excited about doing this now. Hoping for good weather tomorrow.