How to Transplant Blue Pacific Juniper

Root Pruning

• 1

  Measure the blue pacific juniper's width at its widest point in the spring, just before it begins active growth. Round the measurement to the nearest inch. Multiply the measurement by 90 percent if it is 12 inches or less, by 70 percent if it is 13 to 24 inches and by 50 percent if it is greater than 24 inches to determine the width of the root ball. Round the figure to the nearest inch. For example, if the juniper's width equals 15 inches, multiply it by .70 to get 10.5. Round the result to 11 inches, the needed width for the shrub's root ball.

• 2

  Lift the juniper's branches upward gently while wrapping a piece of twine around them. Position the twine halfway between their bases and tips, and tie it together to hold the branches above ground level. Do not bend the branches so severely or tie them so tightly that they break.

• 3

  Draw a circle in the soil with a shovel around the juniper with a diameter equal to the root ball's calculated width. Continuing with the previous example, draw an 11-inch wide circle around the juniper, positioning its edges 5 1/2 inches away from the plant's center.

• 4

  Determine the depth of the root ball by multiplying its width by 75 percent. Round the result to the nearest inch. In this example, multiply 11 by .75 to get 8.25. Round 8.25 to 8 inches, the depth needed for this juniper's root ball.

• 5

  Dig vertically down into the soil around the perimeter of the circle. Dig to the calculated depth, pushing the shovel's blade through the roots to sever them. .

• 6

  Reach down into the trench with a pair of loppers and cut through stubborn roots. Cut through the twine with scissors to release the branches. Let the plant sit for six months.

Transplanting

• 7

  Spread a piece of burlap on the ground next to the blue pacific juniper. Tie a cloth strip onto one of the juniper's branches growing on the north side of the plant. Tie the branches up with twine in the same manner as before.

• 8

  Dig around the juniper, 3 inches out from the root pruning circle. Dig to the previous depth. Push the shovel horizontally across the bottom of the root ball to cut if from the ground.

• 9

  Lift the plant from the ground carefully and place it on the burlap. Wrap the burlap around the root ball and tie it in place with twine. Load the juniper into a wheelbarrow and transport it to the new planting site. Park the plant in shade.

• 10

  Pull weeds and pick up rocks and debris from a planting site that receives full sunlight and contains well-draining soil.

• 11

  Dig a hole twice as wide and the same depth as the juniper's root ball. Space the hole 5 to 7 feet away from other plants.

• 12

  Place the juniper on the ground next to the hole. Untie the twine and remove the burlap from its root ball. Cut off any broken, discolored or dead roots with pruning shears.

• 13

  Place the juniper in the center of the hole. Add or remove soil from underneath the plant as needed to position the root ball level with the surrounding ground. Turn the juniper to position the branch containing the cloth strip toward the north.

• 14

  Fill the hole halfway full of soil, tamping it down around the root ball. Fill the hole with water from a hose. Wait for the soil to absorb the water.

• 15

  Fill the top half of the hole with soil, tamping it down as before. Do not bury the root ball deeper than it was previously growing. Water the juniper thoroughly.

• 16

  Spread a 3-inch deep layer of mulch over the planting site with a rake. Keep the mulch 3 inches away from the blue pacific juniper's main stem to prevent it from rotting.

• 17

  Water the juniper when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil becomes dry. Reduce watering to time of little to no rainfall once the juniper begins to produce new growth, a sign of establishment.