How to Transplant English Box Hedge
English boxwood hedge (Buxus sempervirens) thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 8. It grows slowly to 15 to 20 feet tall, with thick, dark green foliage that remains through the winter. Although it may be easier to handle if you transplant it when young, even when large and old it will not prove difficult. Auburn University even calls boxwood a "delight" to transplant due to its shallow root system. To allow the plant to acclimate to its new location before experiencing harsh weather, transplant in early spring or early fall.
Find a new location for your boxwood in full sun or partial shade, with moist, well-draining, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil.
Push a sharp spade into the ground back at the boxwood's current site, starting 12 inches out from the trunk, and repeat in a complete circle around the plant to sever the roots
Dig an 8- to 10-inch deep and 4- to 6-inch wide trench along the outside of the circle you already cut.
Dig out the soil under the plant at an angle that forms an upside down cone with the root ball. English boxwood does not grow deep roots, so you do not have to include too much of the soil underneath the plant.
Lift the shrub onto a tarp and drag it to its new location in the yard.
Dig a hole twice the width of the plant's root ball, to give the roots room to spread freely, and to a depth no deeper than the height of the root ball. To adjust for settling, make the hole 1/2- to 1-inch shallower than the root ball.
Place the boxwood upright in the hole and fill in the soil around its roots. Tamp down the soil around the plant firmly to hold it in place.
Water the shrub deeply, from the base of the plant out to the edge of the planting hole. If any depressions occur, refill them with soil.
Spread a 1-inch layer of organic mulch around the base of the shrub to help conserve moisture, keeping it 6 inches away from the trunk. Water once a week to a depth of 8 inches to encourage strong root development.
- If the branches get in the way while digging, tie a piece of twine around the bottom of the shrub and wind it around and up, binding the branches to the trunk.
- Water the boxwood the day before transplanting to help minimize shock and to make the soil easier to dig.
Sarah Morse has been a writer since 2009, covering environmental topics, gardening and technology. She holds a bachelor's degree in English language and literature, a master's degree in English and a master's degree in information science.