Some garden owners underestimate how vigorously growing cherry laurel actually is. Over the course of a few years, the evergreen young plants develop into magnificent shrubs, which take up a lot of space, especially in small gardens and if they are not cut regularly. It may then be necessary to dig up the shrub and move it to another location where it can develop undisturbed.
How should you dig up and transplant a cherry laurel?
To dig up a cherry laurel, choose dormancy (November to April) as the optimal time. Dig a furrow around the shrub, cut the roots with a spade, and carefully lift out the root ball. When replanting, prepare a sufficiently large planting hole and enriched soil.
The right time
It is advisable to dig up a laurel cherry that you want to move while the vegetation is dormant. This lasts from November to April. If you no longer want to transplant the laurel cherry, you can remove the bush all year round.
Digging up the laurel cherry
Make a depression around the bush before transplanting. This should be at least two feet away from the main trunk. Dig the furrow deep enough to reach the top roots of the cherry laurel.
From here, pierce the soil vertically with the spade so that the roots are cut off. You can easily lift the root ball cut off in this way from the ground.
Removing cherry laurel
Very large shrubs that should not be transplanted can be shortened before digging up and the trunk can then be sawed off. Dig up the root system all around with a spade and cut off the roots as much as possible with the tip of the shovel. The thick main roots are then cut through with an ax (€495.00 at Amazon).
Now use the leverage of the trunk and press it alternately in different directions. This will cause the roots remaining in the ground to break off and you can remove the rest of the trunk.
When replanting the cherry laurel, proceed as follows:
- Dig a planting pit that is at least twice as wide and deep as the root ball.
- Mix the removed topsoil with some sand or garden soil.
- Enrich soil with manure, horn shavings or compost.
- Insert the cherry laurel and fill the planting hole with the substrate.
- Tread the floor firmly.
- Water the cherry laurel thoroughly.
Since the laurel cherry is extremely robust, it roots quickly again after being moved.
Tips & Tricks
When planting, consider how big a laurel cherry can get. The larger the bush and the longer it has been in its place, the more difficult it will be to dig up and move the cherry laurel. If you want to remove an entire hedge, we recommend using a winch or a pulley.
