Moving a Large Rhododendron

JamesL · November 3, 2014

I managed to get a few large fall projects out of the way in the last few weeks. Moving this big Rhody was one of them. It only needed to go about 60 feet or so into my neighbor’s yard.

In full bloom this summer

The root ball ended up being 5X5 and about 12 inches deep. They don’t have a tap root, so wide and flat is the way to go. I would guess it weighed north of 600 lbs. Had a few minutes of consternation as it had rained heavily the day before and it was up tight against the foundation so not a lot of working room. After a bit of tire spinning, some readjustments, and a few choice expletives, out she came.

My assistant – I used pallet forks for the lift and move, not the bucket.

Its new home - Nice and tidy isn't it? It is going to look great here as long as it survives.

The aftermath – Still need to rake area this out. I will use the rest of the excess sod from the new planting hole and then seed the rest.

Salsacharley · November 3, 2014

Very well done! That's a beautiful plant. I hope you still get to look at it often.

ddsack · November 3, 2014

What a job! I don't envy you digging out the huge root ball. But it will all be worth it next time it blooms!

JamesL · November 4, 2014

Charlie and Dee,
Thanks!
It has to be at least 30 to 40 years old and growing in a bad spot with poor soil.
It had to be moved - or the easy way out - chainsaw. I couldn't justify that. If it doesn't make it at least I tried.
It is in a choice spot so I will still get to see it every day.
I should have posted this pic.
It is now in front of the white garage in the right of this photo.

maf · November 5, 2014

Nice job! I would be willing to bet money that it survives as long as the damage to the bark is not too severe.

Worth1 · November 5, 2014

In another life I used to do this sort of thing.
You did a perfect job.
This winter it can grow new roots hopefully and come this spring and summer it should be kept well watered.
It will be fine I imagine.
Worth

JamesL · November 9, 2014

Thanks Guys!
Maf, yeah that is an idiot mark. Head smacking rookie mistake, not burlapping the trunk or padding the forks.
Worth, I resemble that remark as well. Has to be 20 years since the last time I operated any heavy equip though. Amazing what you don't forget, other than the burlap.... DOH!

JamesL · May 28, 2015

It appears we have a winner. After the winter we had here I was not real sure this would make it.
Still have concerns about the large left side branch.

It was in prime position to catch all the rain off the back neighbors garage roof.
Wouldn't you know it, he went and replaced the roof and put in a new gutter! "The best laid schemes of Mice and Men oft go awry..."

May 17th

Yesterday, May 27th

Worth1 · May 28, 2015

Looks nice.

wormgirl · May 29, 2015

I would say that's quite successful, good job. I took rhodies from my neighbor's yard once. For some reason they dug them up when they were in full bloom! (They were more than a little OCD...) I kept soaker hoses on them the first year, they seemed fine. Fine during the rainy winter. Next spring I did NOT put the soaker hoses back, and wished I had. They all died. Since your neighbor fixed his gutter he might want to put a soaker hose or dripper on it if possible.

pauldavid · May 29, 2015

Awesome job, it looks good! I dug up a fig that was planted about 15 years ago and moved it to where we live now. The first year it looked great, but this year one side died. Bummer! I need to prune it back to the live side.

JamesL · May 29, 2015

Thanks all. Yes, consistent watering is the key, especially for the first year.

Jenn,
Wrong neighbor on the roof fix, we were screening off that guys garage.

Tracydr · May 29, 2015

Nice. Do you fertilize the rhododendron? Mine are not nearly as nice. I'm sure they haven't been fertilized in about 20 years. I'm thinking about fertilizing but don't want to hurt them,either.

JamesL · May 29, 2015

Tracy, yes feed them!
Espoma Hollytone is a safe bet. I have also used Texas tomato food as quick liquid hit. If they haven't been fed in forever, a few hits of whatever liquid fert you have over the next few weeks would be fine.
2012 was my first year in this house and this Rhody looked kinda ratty. 2 years of a little TLC and the result was the pix from my first post. My neighbor said she could not believe how good it looked last year and she has been in her house for at least 25 years.
No real effort - spring feed, maybe some mulch and a light fall pruning and you are done.
Good Rhody site -http://www.rhododendron.org/plantcare.htm

Tracydr · May 30, 2015

Thanks, James! I have some Epsoma acid lover food hanging around. I'll toss some on the Rhodes and azaleas,too!

November 3, 2014	#1
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Moving a Large Rhododendron I managed to get a few large fall projects out of the way in the last few weeks. Moving this big Rhody was one of them. It only needed to go about 60 feet or so into my neighbor’s yard. In full bloom this summer The root ball ended up being 5X5 and about 12 inches deep. They don’t have a tap root, so wide and flat is the way to go. I would guess it weighed north of 600 lbs. Had a few minutes of consternation as it had rained heavily the day before and it was up tight against the foundation so not a lot of working room. After a bit of tire spinning, some readjustments, and a few choice expletives, out she came. My assistant – I used pallet forks for the lift and move, not the bucket. Its new home - Nice and tidy isn't it? It is going to look great here as long as it survives. The aftermath – Still need to rake area this out. I will use the rest of the excess sod from the new planting hole and then seed the rest.

November 3, 2014	#3
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,220	What a job! I don't envy you digging out the huge root ball. But it will all be worth it next time it blooms! __________________ Dee **************

May 29, 2015	#10
wormgirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 245	I would say that's quite successful, good job. I took rhodies from my neighbor's yard once. For some reason they dug them up when they were in full bloom! (They were more than a little OCD...) I kept soaker hoses on them the first year, they seemed fine. Fine during the rainy winter. Next spring I did NOT put the soaker hoses back, and wished I had. They all died. Since your neighbor fixed his gutter he might want to put a soaker hose or dripper on it if possible. __________________ Jenn

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November 3, 2014	#2
Salsacharley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Mexico Posts: 2,052	Very well done! That's a beautiful plant. I hope you still get to look at it often.

November 4, 2014	#4
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Charlie and Dee, Thanks! It has to be at least 30 to 40 years old and growing in a bad spot with poor soil. It had to be moved - or the easy way out - chainsaw. I couldn't justify that. If it doesn't make it at least I tried. It is in a choice spot so I will still get to see it every day. I should have posted this pic. It is now in front of the white garage in the right of this photo.

November 5, 2014	#5
maf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: England Posts: 512	Nice job! I would be willing to bet money that it survives as long as the damage to the bark is not too severe.

November 5, 2014	#6
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	In another life I used to do this sort of thing. You did a perfect job. This winter it can grow new roots hopefully and come this spring and summer it should be kept well watered. It will be fine I imagine. Worth

November 9, 2014	#7
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Thanks Guys! Maf, yeah that is an idiot mark. Head smacking rookie mistake, not burlapping the trunk or padding the forks. Worth, I resemble that remark as well. Has to be 20 years since the last time I operated any heavy equip though. Amazing what you don't forget, other than the burlap.... DOH!

May 28, 2015	#8
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	It appears we have a winner. After the winter we had here I was not real sure this would make it. Still have concerns about the large left side branch. It was in prime position to catch all the rain off the back neighbors garage roof. Wouldn't you know it, he went and replaced the roof and put in a new gutter! "The best laid schemes of Mice and Men oft go awry..." May 17th Yesterday, May 27th

May 29, 2015	#11
pauldavid Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NE Louisiana, Zone 8A Posts: 1,179	Awesome job, it looks good! I dug up a fig that was planted about 15 years ago and moved it to where we live now. The first year it looked great, but this year one side died. Bummer! I need to prune it back to the live side.

May 29, 2015	#13
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	Nice. Do you fertilize the rhododendron? Mine are not nearly as nice. I'm sure they haven't been fertilized in about 20 years. I'm thinking about fertilizing but don't want to hurt them,either.

May 30, 2015	#15
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	Thanks, James! I have some Epsoma acid lover food hanging around. I'll toss some on the Rhodes and azaleas,too!