How to Transplant Yucca Rostrata

Water the ground around the yucca every day for 1 week to soften the soil and ease the transplant process.

Draw an “N” on the north side of the shrub in washable marker, so it can be positioned properly at the transplant site.

Excavated the soil surrounding the plant with a small garden spade creating a circle around the shrub at least 3 feet in diameter and 15 inches deep.

Slide the edge of a large shovel beneath the bare roots and lean on the handle to lift the yucca from the soil. Larger yucca plants can be quite heavy; if the plant refuses to budge, try a larger shovel, or recruit a gardening assistant and use several blades simultaneously.

Place the yucca in the center of a large square of burlap; pull the edges of the material toward the main stem and secure the fabric with a long piece of gardening twine.

Sprinkle water over the burlap bag to moisten the fragile roots beneath, then place the bag in a wheelbarrow and roll the shrub into a shady spot.

Prepare the transplant site by digging a wide hole that is no deeper than the shrub’s root ball.

Situate the shrub in the planting site so that the “N” is facing north and the top of the root ball is sitting level to the ground, then unwrap the burlap and use a small knife to cut away as much of the fabric as possible.

Refill the planting hole with the soil dug from it. Press the soil lightly, working around the base of the yucca, but do not stomp the loose dirt into position as this creates an overly compact environment that can restrict new root growth.

Water the yucca thoroughly, giving it at least an inch or two of water. It is crucial to keep the roots of a newly transplanted shrub moist while the plant is adjusting to the new location. Do not allow it to suffer drought for the first two to three months after planting.

Spread a 2- to 3-inch-deep layer of organic mulch around the foundation of the plant to nourish the soil. Do not pile mulch against the shrub's main stem as this encourages bark rot.