How to Move Fully Mature Rhododendron Bushes

Transplant the rhododendron during its dormancy in late winter to early spring to avoid stressing the plant. This timing allows the plant to "awake" in its new site and establish before the heat of summer. In zones 9 and 10, move the rhododendron in mid-fall, just before first frost, to give the shrub time to establish well before summer arrives.

Choose and prepare your new site. Find a site at least twice as large as the rhododendron, with light, partial or filtered shade, proper air circulation and quick year-round drainage. Choosing larger sites eliminates the need for frequent transplant.

Dig a 3-foot-square plot in the new site for amendment. Till the top 10 inches of soil and add 3 to 5 inches of organic compost or commercial azalea planting soil. Azaleas and rhododendrons require rich, loose and moist soil with a high organic content and fail in tight or poor soil. Add more amendment as necessary to produce dark, crumbly planting soil.

Dig into the soil 3 to 4 inches outside the drip line of the rhododendron to find the root ball. Dig under the root system to lever it out of the soil. Rhododendrons have shallow root systems and shouldn't require much digging. Move the plant to the new site with its entire root system intact.

Plant the rhododendron at the same depth in its new site to fully cover the root ball and leave the trunk and crown above the soil. Fill around the roots with amended soil to eliminate air pockets.

Water the rhododendron with 1/2 gallon of water to settle the soil, then add 2 inches of organic mulch over the soil in your 3-foot plot.