Could I move a hydrangea now?

SadCarpetMess · 25/05/2025 14:06

How big is it? I've moved quite sizeable hydrangeas in summer successfully on clay soil but you need to make sure it's soaked to the brim first. Give it plenty of water for several days running after cutting out the old stems at the Base. It needs to be in optimum water condition first.
Then when there's a run of rainy and cloudy days forecast prep the planting hole well. In the evening, take out the hydrangea with as much soil and roolball as you can possibly manage - the idea being that you don't want it to know it's been moved. You can drag it to it's new position on a tarp because it'll be too bid and awkward to lift.
Make the planting hole bigger to match the rootball. Plant it and backfill with compost. Water water water. Shade it if necessary with a parasol to reduce water loss from the leaves.

Original poster

Kdyjrd44 · 25/05/2025 15:54

SadCarpetMess · 25/05/2025 14:06

How big is it? I've moved quite sizeable hydrangeas in summer successfully on clay soil but you need to make sure it's soaked to the brim first. Give it plenty of water for several days running after cutting out the old stems at the Base. It needs to be in optimum water condition first.
Then when there's a run of rainy and cloudy days forecast prep the planting hole well. In the evening, take out the hydrangea with as much soil and roolball as you can possibly manage - the idea being that you don't want it to know it's been moved. You can drag it to it's new position on a tarp because it'll be too bid and awkward to lift.
Make the planting hole bigger to match the rootball. Plant it and backfill with compost. Water water water. Shade it if necessary with a parasol to reduce water loss from the leaves.

Not big( paniculata) that isn’t thriving where it is.

OP posts:

SadCarpetMess · 25/05/2025 16:04

I've moved mop heads and lace caps but not paniculata. I'd go for it if it isn't thriving where it is. I've moved 1 of my lace caps 4 times 🙄😊

HollyBerryz · 25/05/2025 16:22

If it's not thriving you might as well move it and see.

EasierToWalkAway · 25/05/2025 17:08

The only place you should contemplate moving it to now is a large pot (depending on size). Hydrangeas need a lot of water (consider the meaning of hydra) and we are in a drought situation and who knows how the rest of the summer is going to go. If you move it, you will have disturbed the roots and they won’t take up as much water. You will have to water it very frequently just to help it survive. I would leave it where it is and move it in the autumn.

Original poster

Kdyjrd44 · 26/05/2025 06:48

EasierToWalkAway · 25/05/2025 17:08

The only place you should contemplate moving it to now is a large pot (depending on size). Hydrangeas need a lot of water (consider the meaning of hydra) and we are in a drought situation and who knows how the rest of the summer is going to go. If you move it, you will have disturbed the roots and they won’t take up as much water. You will have to water it very frequently just to help it survive. I would leave it where it is and move it in the autumn.

I don’t think it’s getting enough sun as never flowers and not growing. Also wondering if it’s not getting enough water, overhung a fair bit by a tree. Was going to move it forward. Wondering about the pot scenario until the autumn but wouldn’t a pot have a tendency to dry out more?

OP posts:

pelargoniums · 26/05/2025 06:56

We just moved a massive one and it’s struggling a bit, BUT we didn’t do it right as per first answer in this thread: more of a spontaneous “let’s do it!”, ably unassisted by small children dragging it rather than using a tarp, roots broken to get it out, because of mad previous owners planting system, hole too small (mind you I’ve never bothered with the “twice as big and deep” thing and nothing’s ever died), etc.

Plenty of rain here and it’s putting on flowers but discoloured a bit; carrying on watering well and so far it’s surviving and will hopefully eventually recover, but I’m not expecting it to be a great beauty for another couple of seasons while it recovers.

Original poster

Kdyjrd44 · 26/05/2025 07:04

pelargoniums · 26/05/2025 06:56

We just moved a massive one and it’s struggling a bit, BUT we didn’t do it right as per first answer in this thread: more of a spontaneous “let’s do it!”, ably unassisted by small children dragging it rather than using a tarp, roots broken to get it out, because of mad previous owners planting system, hole too small (mind you I’ve never bothered with the “twice as big and deep” thing and nothing’s ever died), etc.

Plenty of rain here and it’s putting on flowers but discoloured a bit; carrying on watering well and so far it’s surviving and will hopefully eventually recover, but I’m not expecting it to be a great beauty for another couple of seasons while it recovers.

Yeah absolutely not expecting a show this year, just want it to live!

OP posts:

EasierToWalkAway · 26/05/2025 07:17

Kdyjrd44 · 26/05/2025 06:48

I don’t think it’s getting enough sun as never flowers and not growing. Also wondering if it’s not getting enough water, overhung a fair bit by a tree. Was going to move it forward. Wondering about the pot scenario until the autumn but wouldn’t a pot have a tendency to dry out more?

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You can control the water in a pot. Use a plastic one as it is less likely to dry out. Keep in the pot until late Autumn and then replant in the ground. Otherwise leave it where it is until then. Water often and mulch.