The farm-to-table movement has many people excited about growing fresh produce and living off the land. Occasionally, there are times when it’s necessary to move a plant from its current location. The flora may have grown too large, or you may want to give it a new home as you rearrange your garden. Whatever the case, you must take the proper precautions to ensure that your transplant thrives in its new location. Here are some tips to ensure your transfer happens without issue.
Prepare the Plant
Relocating plants should be done in the fall or spring months. The heat of summer is far too hot for a transplant. However, you may have no choice. The best thing you can do to help a plant thrive in its new location is to water it twenty-four hours before the move. You want the roots to be moist rather than dry and brittle. Always try to work in the cool of the evening or when it’s overcast outside for better luck. Remember that roots desiccate quickly, so you don’t want to dig them up and let them sit for hours before replanting.
Transporting
Whether you’re using a seedling, you need to dig your hole and practice the art of puddling. Puddling is where you water the ground so much until it makes mud. The flora will soak up a great deal of that moisture when you transplant it. Place the plant into the ground and fill the hole with water yet again. Make sure that the water settles around the roots and submerges them before you cover the roots with dirt. You mustn’t pack the soil too tight as you want to make sure that you don’t close off any air pockets. Just use your hand to pack the dirt so that the plant can aerate. Make sure to use a floating row cover to shield the plant from direct sunlight. It should be protected for 3–5 days. When transplanting is done right, it can lead to stronger plants and better yields.
After Care
For the first couple of weeks after the transplant, you will need to keep a close eye on the plant. You must water it every day, if not more than once. The weather will play a significant role in how much water is needed. Check the soil for moisture, and if it’s dry, then you need to add more water. If at any time you see that the flora is beginning to wilt, then it’s a sign that it needs more water.
Relocating a plant is not a significant task, but it’s something that every gardener must do. Remember that when a plant is uprooted, it puts it in a stressful situation. If you must relocate something from your garden in the summer, then you will need to use extra caution as the probability of it thriving is diminished by the scorching heat and beating sun. However, if you are careful and keep a watchful eye over your transplanted trees or shrubs, then you can help your plant to thrive at any time of the year.
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