How to Replant a Yucca

Select a new location for the yucca that receives full sunlight. It can tolerate any soil type and pH levels from 5.5 to 7.5, as long as there is adequate drainage.

Dig a 12-inch-wide and -deep trench around the yucca, beginning 12 inches away from the crown of the plant. Sever the roots completely before lifting the yucca from the hole.

Prune any injured and diseased roots. Set the yucca in an open-air, shaded area for two to three days so the root cuts can heal.

Dig a hole in the new location twice the width and depth of the root system.

Place the removed soil into a large container. Add an equal amount of gravel or sand to the native soil and mix together thoroughly with the shovel.

Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of the soil mixture on the bottom of the hole. Set the yucca in the center of the hole facing the same direction as it was in the last. According to the University of Arizona Extension, the south side of the yucca has become more heat- and sunlight-resistant.

Backfill the hole with the soil, pressing the soil gently around the roots to release air pockets. Sprinkle water lightly around the soil and do so again two weeks after transplanting. Yuccas prefer dry soil and over-watering can cause root rot.

Place a shade cloth over the newly transplanted yucca and remove once the plant has reestablished.