I want to move my two Parson's Juniper now, in July, since this is the time the landscapers have and I can afford it. Will these survive the transplant? They have been in the ground now for about 3 - 4 years..

Answer #2 · J.C. Steele's Answer · Hi Dorrine,
The month of July is the worst time to try and transplant a 3-4 year old shrub or tree.With the high summer tempetures and long days it is going to be very stressful for the plant.The very best time for you to transplant is going to be in the fall months , such as , October or November.

If , in fact , you absolutely have to transplant them now due to time and finances , I would recommend the landscapers try to keep as much of the root-ball in tact as possible , you may want to consider pruning the Juniper back some and you will also need to water it every day for the rest of the warm season and periodically into the fall months.There is still a slim chance that your Juniper will survive after being transplanted during the dog days of summer.Transplanting during this time is going to demand alot of your time and care for the rest of the summer.

I STRONGLY advise waiting until fall , you will have much better results over all!)

Answer #1 · Brooks Wilson's Answer · Hi Dorrine,

This is definitely not the optimum time to transplant your junipers. In fact it is the worst time. This being said it's not impossible to achieve transplanting success at this time of year.

If you decide to take the risk make sure that your landscaper knows what he's doing. Here's the best method for transplanting at this time of year:

1) Make sure when digging the plant to save as much of the root ball as possible. If possible it's best to start digging at the drip line or at the outer edge of the foliage. Parsoni Juniper grow wider than tall so this may not be possible depending on how quickly the plants have grown over the 3-4 years. Either way, get as much of the root system as possible.

2) Dig the new hole at least one third wider than the root system. Double the width is even better. This will soften the soil and allow for easier and faster new root development. Mix a good planting soil with the existing native soil. Something like Mushroom Compost .

3) Prune back the plant by about 1/3, place in the new hole keeping the top of the root system at ground level. Back fill soil mix about half way.

4) Mix a solution of root stimulator in a bucket and poor about half it over the soil and roots. Back fill with the remaining soil tamp the soil lightly and poor the other half of root stimulator solution over the roots and soil. You can find root stimulator products at your local independent nursery and garden center. There is a root stimulator that comes in a bottle that has a hose end attachment. No mixing required. Just hook it to the hose.

5) Apply a slow release plant starter type fertilizer by sprinkling it all around the plant from the base out slightly beyond the drip line.

6) Thoroughly water after the transplanting is done. Continue to water at least once a day, or soak deeply about every other day as long as there is not a sufficient amount of rain fall. Direct sun, high temperatures, and rainfall amounts can determine how often and how much watering your Junipers will need.

Hope this helps you and feel free to ask more questions.

Brooks Wilson))