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Mountain Laurel Transplanting: How to Successfully Move Your Favorite Shrubs

Mountain laurel is a beautiful and hardy shrub that is prized by gardeners for its showy flowers and evergreen foliage. However, there are times when you may need to move your mountain laurels to a new location, such as when they outgrow their current space or when you want to add them to a new garden bed. While transplanting mountain laurels may seem daunting, it is actually a relatively simple process if you follow these easy steps.

1. Choose the Right Time

The best time to transplant mountain laurels is in the fall or early spring when the plants are dormant. Avoid transplanting them during the summer months when they are actively growing and flowering, as this can shock and stress the plant.

2. Prepare the New Site

Before you start digging up your mountain laurel, prepare the new site where you will be transplanting it. The new location should have well-draining soil and receive partial shade. Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball of the plant and the same depth as the current planting hole.

Mountain Laurel
Mountain Laurel

3. Dig Up the Plant Carefully

To avoid damaging the roots of your mountain laurel, dig around the plant's drip line with a shovel or spade. Slowly work your way under the root ball, being careful not to cut any of the roots. Once you have loosened the soil around the plant, gently lift it out of the ground and place it onto a tarp or wheelbarrow for transport.

Mountain Laurel Roots
Mountain Laurel Roots

4. Replant the Mountain Laurel

Once you have transported your mountain laurel to its new location, carefully place it into the prepared hole. Backfill the hole with the soil you removed earlier, making sure to tamp it down firmly around the roots. Water the plant thoroughly and add a layer of mulch to help retain moisture.

Mountain Laurel Mulching
Mountain Laurel Mulching

5. Provide Adequate Care

After transplanting your mountain laurel, it is important to provide it with adequate care to help it adjust to its new location. Water the plant regularly and deeply throughout the first year after transplanting, especially during dry spells. Fertilize the plant with a slow-release fertilizer in the spring and prune it back lightly in the fall to encourage bushier growth.

Transplanting your mountain laurels can be a simple process if you choose the right time, prepare the new site, dig up the plant carefully, replant it properly, and provide it with adequate care. By following these easy steps, you can successfully move your favorite shrubs to a new location and enjoy their beauty for years to come.

Mountain laurel, transplanting, gardening, shrubs, landscaping

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