Q. I transplanted a dozen Rosemary from the planter in
front of my house into pots to see if I could salvage them. I know Rosemary
likes full sun, but I’m curious if they could use some shade because of the
shock of transplanting?
front of my house into pots to see if I could salvage them. I know Rosemary
likes full sun, but I’m curious if they could use some shade because of the
shock of transplanting?
A. Yes, you should shade plants in containers after
removing them from the planter, but you should also severely cut them back. Let
me explain.
removing them from the planter, but you should also severely cut them back. Let
me explain.
Prune Transplants Hard
General
rule of thumb, when you transplant any plant from the ground to a new location,
including containers, cut back the top about 1/3. In other words, reduce the
amount of top growth the plant has because it loses so much of its roots during
transplanting.
rule of thumb, when you transplant any plant from the ground to a new location,
including containers, cut back the top about 1/3. In other words, reduce the
amount of top growth the plant has because it loses so much of its roots during
transplanting.
I’ve
read estimates that as much as 80% of the roots remain in the ground when moving
plants to a new location. The older the
plant, the more roots remain in the ground.
read estimates that as much as 80% of the roots remain in the ground when moving
plants to a new location. The older the
plant, the more roots remain in the ground.
If the
plant is watered with drip irrigation, the roots grow closer to the plant and
transplanting is more successful. For these reasons, and my own personal
experiences, when plants are more than 3 or 4 years in the ground, the chances
of successfully moving it to a new location are fewer. Root pruning helps.
plant is watered with drip irrigation, the roots grow closer to the plant and
transplanting is more successful. For these reasons, and my own personal
experiences, when plants are more than 3 or 4 years in the ground, the chances
of successfully moving it to a new location are fewer. Root pruning helps.
Plan a Year in Advance
Transplanting
plants from the ground to a new location or container is more successful if you
can plan a year in advance. One year ahead of its move, cut the roots with a
sharp shovel as deep as possible where you’ll be digging the following year.
“Root pruning” causes roots to grow closer to the mother plant and improves the
chance of transplanting.
plants from the ground to a new location or container is more successful if you
can plan a year in advance. One year ahead of its move, cut the roots with a
sharp shovel as deep as possible where you’ll be digging the following year.
“Root pruning” causes roots to grow closer to the mother plant and improves the
chance of transplanting.
Shade Helps
If
moving a plant into a container, put them in the shade the first growing season
before moving them into intense sunlight. Remove one third of the top by
eliminating entire branches rather than cutting these branches into a “butch
haircut”.
moving a plant into a container, put them in the shade the first growing season
before moving them into intense sunlight. Remove one third of the top by
eliminating entire branches rather than cutting these branches into a “butch
haircut”.