How to Transplant a Fringe Bush

Dig a root-pruning trench around the fringe bush with a shovel five to seven months prior to transplanting. This will cause the shrub to grow new roots within the trench, resulting in a more compact rootball.

Dig the trench 7 to 8 inches from the stems and 1 foot deep if the shrub is 2 or 3 feet wide or 10 inches away and 15 inches deep if the bush is 4 to 5 feet wide. Add 2 inches to the distance away from the stems and the depth of the trench for every 1 foot of additional width. Separate the topsoil and subsoil while digging the trench. Return the soil to the trench, subsoil first. Settle the soil back into the trench with a thorough watering.

Choose the new location for the fringe bush in an area with a full sun or partial shade that allows the bush to get at least four to six hours of direct sunlight. Test the soil to determine if the pH is between 5 and 7, the preferred pH range for this shrub. Mix iron sulfate into the soil at the new planting site to lower the pH, if necessary. Use 1/2 pound per 12 square feet of loamy or sandy soil to bring the pH down by 1 or from 7.5 to 6.5. Clay soil requires additional amounts of iron sulfate.

Spread aged manure, compost and sphagnum peat moss over the soil at the planting site to a depth of 3 to 6 inches. Mix the amendments into the soil thoroughly to a depth of 1 foot with a tiller or shovel.

Dig the planting hole at the new site before digging up the bush. Make the hole twice the width of the rootball with a depth 1 to 2 inches less than the depth of the rootball. Leave 3 to 5 feet of space between the bush and other shrubs and trees.

Sever any new roots that have grown into the root-pruning trench using a sharp spade. Push the spade all the way into the soil with the rounded back of the blade facing the shrub.

Dig the soil out of the root-pruning trench. Push the spade into the soil under the shrub root mass at a 45-degree angle to form the bottom of the rootball.

Wrap the rootball in thick plastic sheeting before lifting it from the hole. Place it in a wheelbarrow to move it to the planting site if it is too heavy to carry. A 1 1/2-foot wide rootball may weigh 200 pounds.

Set the rootball in the planting hole and remove the plastic sheeting. Push the soil into the hole around the rootball until it is half full. Pour 1/2 gallon of water over the loose soil to settle it.

Fill the hole the rest of the way with soil. Water the shrub with an additional 1/2 to 1 gallon of water to finish settling the soil.

Spread 3 inches of organic mulch around the shrub to help retain soil moisture.

Give the fringe bush 1 to 2 gallons of water each morning for the first month after transplanting. Give it 2 or 3 gallons of water two or three times each week for the remainder of the first year.