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mtrue

Moving plants in January

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I'm having some urgent sewer line repair done this week and will need to temporarily move a 4ft tall upright yew and several hostas. What is the best way to move and keep them? They should be able to go back in the garden in a few days.

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Dig a ball of soil as big as you can lift with the yew and some soil with the hostas. Stick in bucket or some kind of wrapping that won't let the soil dry out. You might even sprinkle some water on the roots. When replanting, tuck some fresh soil around the balls and water in. Have never done it in Jan., but this is what instinct is telling me to do...

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Thank you - I am going to dig them out this morning.

When replanting, is there a concern with watering when the ground around the plants is frozen?

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No - you'll be breaking the hair roots that are responsible for most of the water uptake and the yew still gives off water even when the ground is frozen. The hostas I wouldn't worry so much about. Basically they're a dormant root until spring.

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There was just a crust of frost when I dug them up.

The yew has been replanted. The hostas have not been planted and are buried in snow. I hope to get them in the ground when the temperatures are a little higher.

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Moving plants at this time of year may seem difficult but can be done.  Dig up the yew, keeping as much of the root ball as possible.  Lie it down in a protected area, and cover the root with whatever you have available--leaves, loose soil, and cover with a couple of layers of burlap.  It is important to keep the root ball moist while it is out of the ground and keep it from freezing. It would be better to return it to the ground later in the spring, when the soil has settled. 

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