How to Move a Yucca Plant

Remove the weeds, grass and other plants from the new planting location. Loosen the soil with a shovel to the depth of 12 inches. Pull out any large sticks or rocks. Rake the area smooth and level when done working the soil.

Dig around the base of the yucca plant with a hand trowel. Gently search for the large taproot and dig to the end of it. Carefully work the yucca out of the ground. Each little root left in the soil will sprout into small, baby yucca plants next spring.

Dig a hole the same depth as the root system with a shovel. Make the hole wide enough that the roots fit without curling against the sides of the hole. Place a 1-inch layer of coarse sand in the bottom of the hole. This brings the level of the crown to above the surface of the ground, which prevents crown rot caused by a buried plant center.

Fill in the hole with soil that is not enriched or amended. Yucca plants grow best in sandy soil that mimics desert conditions. Pack the soil around the roots and firm it every couple of inches. This prevents the sinking of the Yucca into the soil, which occurs when air pockets are left around the roots.

Firm the soil around the sides of the crown. Sprinkle water around the base of the yucca until the top inch of soil is wet. Water the succulent every week while it is growing new roots.