A Guide to Transplanting Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas brighten up any garden by growing into luscious bushes that bloom big, colorful flowers for much longer periods than other flowers. They even continue to look attractive during winter, when the flowers begin to fade and die.

However, sometimes a hydrangea may not be thriving as well as it should, which means it might be time to consider transplanting it.

What does it mean to transplant a hydrangea?

Hydrangeas thrive in sunny but shaded locations, and love to grow in heavy clay. They require plenty of moisture, so will struggle if the soil doesn’t get enough.

Because of that, your hydrangeas may no longer be in a suitable spot in your garden. That means, in order for your hydrangeas to not only thrive but survive, they must be transplanted.

Transplanting doesn’t require any special tools or horticultural training, it simply means moving your hydrangeas to a different location in your garden. That way, you can ensure they’re in the best place possible to produce those signature blooms for you to admire for many years to come.

When is the best time to transplant hydrangeas?

If you’re looking to transplant an established hydrangea, the best time of year is during the fall. This is when the bush has gone dormant, meaning it has shed all its leaves and the flowers have died. Transplanting before the winter will also ensure the ground isn’t frozen, which can make digging much more difficult. This means, for those in warmer climates, the window is a little larger and you can transplant any time up to February.

It is possible to transplant a hydrangea during the spring, but any later - especially during the height of a hot summer - and you risk damaging or killing the plant.

How do you transplant hydrangeas?

Follow our step-by-step guide to transplanting your hydrangeas. In order to do this, you will need:

• A shovel
• A full watering can
• Garden sheers
• A bag of compost

Step 1: Prune the hydrangea

If your hydrangea is established and has been planted for a number of years, then you’ll need to prune it before you attempt to move it. Be brave and cut back a lot, which can risk next year's flowers, however, this will help it to root itself in its new location.

Step 2: Choose the new location

The location you choose to move your hydrangea to should get an equal amount of sun and shade, preferably receiving shade during the afternoon. The ground should also drain well, so make sure it’s not close to standing water or in a hole or valley.

Step 3: Dig a hole at the new location

When you’re confident you know where you want your hydrangea to be, it’s time to dig. Because hydrangeas don’t have deep roots, you shouldn’t need to dig too deep - around ten inches should be enough, and around twenty inches in diameter. By digging the hole at the new location first, you prevent unnecessary damage to the hydrangea. Remove any large stones or debris you may find in the soil.

Step 4: Dig up the hydrangea

Once you’re happy with the hole at the new location, carefully dig around the hydrangea. To do this, drive your shovel vertically into the soil, and scoop slowly. Do this in a circle around the bush until you get to the root ball. Make sure you keep as many of the roots intact as possible. Depending on the age of your hydrangea, the root ball may be quite large, and therefore quite heavy. If this is the case, you may need help supporting the bush and lifting it from the ground.

Step 5: Place the hydrangea in its new location

Place the hydrangea in the center of the hole you dug in step 3, making sure the root ball is on solid, flat soil. Replace the soil, making sure the rootball and the soil around it are wet. As you fill in the hole, use compost to add nutrients to the soil, and make sure the soil isn’t too loose so it can support the weight of the bush unaided.

At this stage, you will also want to replace the soil you dug out when removing the hydrangea from its original location.

Step 6: Add more compost

To help the hydrangea re-establish itself in its new location, add a couple of inches of compost and ensure the area is watered thoroughly. If you’ve transplanted during the fall, you may not need to water it yourself over the following weeks and months, but during sunny spells, make sure the ground doesn’t get too dry. Once spring arrives, add some more compost and water regularly to encourage growth.

Hydrangea transplanting tips and advice

Transplanting your hydrangea is a relatively straightforward process, but can be tricky for those with limited gardening experience. Below are a few extra tips to help it go as smoothly as possible.

• Make sure the hydrangeas will receive enough shade, especially in the afternoon when the sun is at its hottest
• Transplant well in advance of the first frost of the year, which will make the process difficult
• The older a hydrangea is, the harder it is to transplant and re-establish, so don’t put off moving it if the need arises
• Make sure the hole is deep enough in the spot you’re moving it to before digging up the hydrangea - this prevents it from being exposed to the elements for too long
• Try not to damage or tear the rootball - leaving as much intact as possible will help it to re-establish in its new spot
• Don’t forget to make sure your hydrangea gets enough water, particularly as the hydrangea re-establishes

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