Fall in San Antonio is generally beautiful and happens to be the most favorable time of the year to relocate your existing plants. Both the weather and the soil are cooler, creating a less stressful environment.
Here are a few basic guidelines that apply to most transplanting situations.
- Timing – Mild temperatures mean less stress on the plant, giving it a better chance of survival. Your planting area should be well prepared, especially the soil.
- Digging – Make your planting hole about twice as wide, but the same depth as the root ball. Planting too deep can cause poor root growth, disease and ultimately death in transplants.
- Planting – Trim or pull apart any matted or tangled roots within the root ball and then trim the roots so that they aren’t bent and fit nicely inside the planting space. You may also need to lightly trim the top of the plant to compensate for the missing roots.
- Filling – Fill the planting space with the original soil, making sure to keep it the same level as the surrounding soil.
And of course, finish off by thoroughly soaking the area with water and adding about 2 inches of mulch. This conserves moisture and reduces the need to water as often.
