If you cultivate a laburnum in your garden, you have certainly made a good choice. The golden yellow flower beauty is an eye-catcher and a fragrant bee pasture at that. But can it be transplanted if necessary? The circumstances have to be right for this.
Can you transplant a laburnum?
A laburnum should not be transplanted if possible, as it is sensitive to cuts on the crown and root ball. Transplanting only makes sense for young specimens, whereby the root ball should be generously dug out and a suitable planting hole prepared.
The transplanting properties of laburnum
The noble laburnum, Laburnum watereri, the hybrid variety that is most commonly cultivated in gardens and parks, is an ornamental shrub that does not grow too old and wants to develop as freely as possible during its life. It is relatively sensitive to damage to both the tree crown and the flat, fleshy roots. It doesn't like being cut or having its roots disturbed by digging. If at all, it should only be cut back minimally, as it is difficult to overcome cuts.
Apart from the fact that its growth doesn't like to be messed with, the laburnum is very frugal and easy to care for. It therefore hardly makes sense to implement it due to poor development. It thrives in virtually all soils as long as they are not too acidic and, although it prefers to be sunny, it also blooms quite well in the shade.
All these properties:
- not too long life expectancy
- cut-sensitive crown
- sensitive root ball
- generally very frugal
essentially speak against transplanting.
Choose your location carefully from the start
If you plant a laburnum in your garden, you should think carefully about the location because it should be the final one if possible. Since it has a relatively compact growth, it doesn't take up too much space. It will also hardly cast too much shadow due to its light crown.
Transplant at most when young
If you want to implement the golden shower completely, for example because the previous tenant doesn't like the planting location, this only makes sense if the specimen is still young. Even if it is a few years old, it should no longer be transplanted - the inevitable strain on the roots and crowns is hardly worth it because of its short lifespan.
When moving a young plant, you should above all make sure that you dig out the root ball as generously as possible and prepare a correspondingly large new planting hole at the new location. If possible, avoid the pruning that is usually associated with transplanting. If necessary, shorten a few thin shoots that are no thicker than 2 cm.
