When Is a Good Time of Year to Transplant Yucca Plants?

Time Frame

• Digging up an established yucca plant inevitably results in the destruction of a large part of the root system. Although tough and resilient plants, yuccas re-establish with new roots best in the warmth of fall when the ground is moist and there is diminishing threat of scorching heat and drought. Transplant yucca anytime from September to November before the soil freezes, especially in the milder winter areas of the southern half of the United States. Some roots will grow over the fall, winter and early spring to better prepare the yucca for growth with the return of warmth in late spring.

Regional Insight

• Contact the local cooperative extension office or regional botanical garden for specific insight on the best times to transplant a yucca. Variations in soil qualities, onset of winter cold temperatures and winter precipitation regimes may warrant a slight modification of fall planting schedules. Certain species may not fare well with fall transplants compared to another time of year. In very cold winter areas, such as in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 6, transplanting in early spring may be better than autumn. This prevents plants desiccating over the winter in cold, frozen soil in the northern United States.

Transplanting Issues

• As with any garden plant, digging up and transplanting a yucca when a flower spike is elongating or open is not the best idea. Flowering expends tremendous energy and resources from a plant, so transplanting can heighten any stresses from root loss or plant processes that will take away from regrowing roots after replanting. While summer transplanting can still lead to success with yuccas, the job is made more difficult because of heat and the misery of working about pointy leaves, and back-breaking digging and cutting of roots. Summer transplanting is confusing with regard to post-transplant watering. Watering is needed to prevent root death, but the hot sun bakes and dries the soil. Therefore, if spring or summer transplanting is done, shade the yucca from hot midday and afternoon sun to help it establish better.

Alternatives

• If digging up, moving and transplanting a large yucca poses a huge labor or time investment, the plant can be propagated and transplanted by the small rooted plantlets -- also called suckers or pups -- that sprout from the main plant's base. If the plantlets are cut away, with some underground rooted stem intact, do so in spring. In the southern United States, where winters are cool but mild, such as in Southern California, Texas and Florida, the pups may also be dug up and planted in fall.