How to move a bush?

[King of Clones]

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=t5591d&s=6I would like to move this bush to different spot on my lawn. How can I do this without killing it?

[Mars2012]

Were you supposed to post a picture of it?

If it is a mature shrub, there are no guarantees that it will survive the move; they suffer more transplant shock than small ones. There are a few things you can do that help it though. Make sure you get as much of the rootball as possible. Plant it at the same soil level as it was previously. Mix some good soil to add to the hole along with some bone meal (good for roots), or some liquid transplant fertilizer. Do this on an overcast day (not scorching hot), and keep it well-watered. Once it's planted, tamp around the base with your hands or foot to settle it (make sure no air pockets by roots). HTH

[King of Clones]

It won't publish my photo for some reason. Here is a link to photo I just took of it.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=t5591d&s=6

[rheimy]

Your bush looks fairly mature. I think your chances of success are low, but like a previous poster said, I would dig out as much of the root as you can without cutting through them with your shovel. If there is any way, I would also wait until the late fall when the bush is gone dormant. You'll have a much higher rate of success than doing it now when it's in bloom and growing. The shock to the roots in the fall will be much less.

Good luck.

[PhuFighter]

It won't publish my photo for some reason. Here is a link to photo I just took of it.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=t5591d&s=6

I think that's a spirea "snowmound". I have one too that is growing a lot faster than expected :(

[cocodc]

I moved a spirea bigger than that... they're pretty hardy (hearty?). If you get some transplant fertilizer to prevent root shock you should be okay. It owuld be best to wait until the fall though at this time of year. Regardless, give it until next season until you judge whether it"took" or not.

[GTT1]

Agree totally with cocodc that these are real hardy and you should have success moving late fall when it goes dormant .

[will888]

I would think the moving in the early spring would be best. There is lots of rain, weather is warming and so plants grow like weed when they come out of dormancy. I moved a weigela and lilac with success. It took 2 seasons for it to fully recover, but it did.

[dirtmover]

Spirea recover well from moving. We've moved a few dozen and even severed off parts which have gone on to grow as separate plants. They will even recover in the middle of summer if it's not too hot and you keep them well watered though to be safe I'd wait until fall.