When's the Best Time to Transplant?
Fall is one of the best times to transplant. Cooler temperatures reduce stress on the plant, while the soil is often still warm enough for roots to continue growing. Early spring is another good option, especially if you move the shrub before it begins producing significant new growth.
Whenever possible, avoid transplanting boxwoods during:
- Extreme heat
- Drought
- Frozen ground
- Periods when the soil is waterlogged or overly saturated
What You'll Need to Transplant a Boxwood
Gather your supplies before you begin so the shrub can be moved and replanted without unnecessary delays.
You’ll need:
- A sharp shovel or spade
- Garden hose or watering can
- Tarp
- Mulch
- Garden gloves
For larger or more established boxwoods, it’s also a good idea to have another person available. A mature shrub and its soil-filled root ball can be surprisingly heavy!
Optional Prep: Root Pruning
If you know several months in advance that you’ll be moving a mature boxwood, root pruning can help prepare the plant for transplanting.
Root pruning involves cutting some of the outer roots before the shrub is moved. This can encourage new feeder roots to form closer to the plant, creating a more compact root system that may be easier to transplant. If you didn’t root prune ahead of time, that’s okay. You can still transplant a boxwood successfully. Focus on keeping as much of the existing root system and surrounding soil intact as possible.
Water Your Boxwood Before Transplanting
Moist soil is generally easier to dig and is more likely to stay together around the roots as you lift the shrub. Starting with a well-hydrated plant can also help reduce stress during the move.
Avoid working in soil that is soggy or waterlogged, however. Very wet soil can be heavy, compact easily, and make the root ball harder to handle.
How to Transplant Boxwoods Step by Step
1. Prepare the New Planting Site
Whenever possible, dig the new planting hole before removing the boxwood from its current location. This helps minimize the amount of time the roots spend out of the ground.
Choose a location with well-drained soil and 5-6 hours of sunlight. Dig the hole about twice as wide as the root ball, but no deeper than the root ball itself. A wide planting hole gives roots room to spread into the surrounding soil. Keeping the hole relatively shallow also helps prevent the shrub from settling too deeply after planting.
2. Dig Around the Boxwood
Begin digging at or just beyond the outer edge of the shrub’s branches rather than close to the trunk. Boxwood roots spread outward, so starting farther from the center gives you a better chance of preserving more of the root system.
Use a sharp shovel or spade to work your way around the shrub. Dig down gradually, then begin working underneath the root ball. Remember to take your time! The goal is to remove the shrub with as much of the root system and surrounding soil intact as practical.
3. Lift and Carefully Move the Boxwood
Once the root ball is free, carefully lift the shrub from the ground. Whenever possible, support the root ball rather than pulling or lifting the plant by its stems or branches.
Place the root ball on a tarp. This helps protect the roots and soil while also making the shrub easier to move across the yard.
4. Set the Boxwood at the Right Height
Place the shrub in the center of the new hole, positioning it so the top of the root ball sits about 1 inch above the surrounding soil level. Avoid planting the boxwood deeper than it was growing previously.
5. Backfill With the Existing Soil
Before backfilling with soil, step back and check the shrub from several angles. Make sure it is upright and oriented the way you want it.
Once you're happy with the placement, fill the space around the root ball with the soil you removed when digging the hole. Gently firm the soil as you work to remove large air pockets, but avoid packing it down heavily.
6. Water Thoroughly
Once the planting hole is filled, water the boxwood thoroughly. A deep watering helps settle the soil around the root ball and brings the roots into good contact with the surrounding soil.
If the soil settles significantly after watering, add a little more soil as needed while keeping the top of the root ball slightly above the surrounding grade.
Boxwood Transplant Aftercare
Water Deeply: Consistent moisture is one of the most important parts of boxwood transplant aftercare. Newly moved boxwoods need enough water to keep the root zone from drying out while new roots develop, but they should not remain in soggy or waterlogged soil. Check the soil regularly during the first several weeks after transplanting. If it feels dry around the root ball, water deeply.
There is no single watering schedule that works for every garden. How often your boxwood needs water will depend on factors such as:
- Rainfall
- Temperature
- Soil type
- Sun exposure
- Drainage
Apply Mulch: After planting, apply about 1 inch of mulch over the root zone. This will help conserve soil moisture and moderate soil temperatures while the boxwood becomes re-established.
Spread the mulch around the plant rather than piling it against the stems, leaving a small gap around the base of the shrub so the mulch does not sit directly against the plant.
How to Help Reduce Transplant Shock
Transplant shock can occur whenever an established shrub is moved, and part of its root system is disturbed. Careful handling and consistent aftercare can help reduce stress and give the plant the best chance to establish successfully.
To help reduce transplant shock:
- Water the shrub before digging if the soil is dry.
- Preserve as much of the root system as possible.
- Keep the root ball moist while moving the plant.
- Replant the shrub as soon as possible.
- Avoid planting too deeply.
- Water thoroughly after planting.
- Keep the root zone consistently moist, but not saturated.
- Avoid heavy fertilization while the plant is recovering.
- Add a light layer of mulch to help conserve moisture.
Some temporary signs of stress can occur after transplanting as the shrub directs energy toward rebuilding its root system. Don't panic! Continue monitoring soil moisture and give the plant time to adjust.
Can You Transplant Boxwoods in Spring?
Yes. Boxwoods can be transplanted in spring. For the best results, move them early in the season before significant new growth begins and before hot weather arrives. Pay especially close attention to watering after a spring transplant. A boxwood moved in spring has less time to establish new roots before summer heat increases water demand.
If you have the flexibility to choose between seasons, fall is often preferred because cooler conditions can give the shrub additional time to establish before the stress of summer.
Transplanting an established boxwood may seem like a major project, but the process is much more manageable when you prepare the new location first and work carefully.
Choose a mild time of year, protect as much of the root system as possible, plant the shrub at the proper height, and pay close attention to soil moisture while it becomes established. With thoughtful timing and good aftercare, your boxwoods can settle into a new location and continue providing evergreen structure and beauty in your landscape for years to come.
Looking for more boxwood advice? Explore our care and planting tips, browse the Better Boxwood® collection, and use our Garden Center Locator to find a retailer near you.
