In principle, transplanting younger climbing hydrangeas is not a problem, even if the plants are actually reluctant to be moved. However, older specimens are a little more difficult to handle, especially since they can grow up to ten meters high.
How to successfully transplant a climbing hydrangea?
To successfully transplant a climbing hydrangea, you should dig a trench around the plant in summer and fill it with loose soil. In late autumn, loosen the vines and cut them back before carefully digging up the plant and planting it in the new location. Afterwards it needs a lot of water to grow.
Preparation for transplanting
Before you start transplanting your climbing hydrangea, you should first make a number of preparations to make it as easy as possible for your plant to grow in the new location. It's best to plan transplanting a few months in advance so that you can take appropriate precautions in the summer. By the way, the best time for transplanting is late autumn, although if necessary you can also carry out the measure in early spring, before budding.
Preparing the climbing hydrangea for moving
Prepare the plant by digging a hand-width trench around the climbing hydrangea with a spade in the summer. You then fill this trench with loose potting soil. Subsequently, new roots will develop near the ball at the interfaces (after all, many roots will be cut in the process) until autumn. This not only makes it easier for you to dig up the climbing hydrangea undamaged, but also for the plant to grow later.
Thorough soil preparation is the be-all and end-all
Thorough soil preparation is the be-all and end-all of a long-term, magnificently growing and blooming climbing hydrangea. Thoroughly loosen the soil at the new location and mix the excavated material with compost (€12.00 on Amazon), horn shavings and peat. In this way you promote soil life and thus the nutrient supply to the plant. All root weeds and their rhizomes should also be meticulously removed from the ground with a digging fork.
Transplanting climbing hydrangeas – step by step
Once all the preparations have been completed, you can now get to work when the weather is suitable. Choose a day that is not too cold and with a cloudy sky if possible.
- Carefully loosen all the climbing hydrangea's tendrils.
- Cut down the framework and the vines.
- You can take a radical approach and cut back to around 50 centimeters.
- Pruning is necessary because the roots can no longer support the plant after moving.
- Now dig up the climbing hydrangea carefully.
- Put the spade as deep as possible.
- Lift the plant with the ball out of the hole.
- Cut off broken and damaged roots.
- Replant the climbing hydrangea in its new location.
Tips & Tricks
Climbing hydrangeas need a lot of water after transplanting, so not only muddy the planting hole, but also the roots well after planting. A watering rim helps with precise watering.
