How to Transplant Cape Jasmine Bushes

Prepare the new site for planting. Cape jasmine plants tolerate most soil types, but incorporating four inches of compost into the soil approximately 8 to 10 inches deep adds valuable nutrients and improves water drainage.

Remove the cape jasmine from its current location. Use a spade to dig around the plant, cutting under about six to eight inches deep to get a good size root ball. Adjust the digging as necessary to keep as much of the larger roots intact as possible, especially since cape jasmines do not tolerate root disturbances very well.

Dig a hole that is two times as wide as the cape jasmine’s root ball. It should be deep enough to accommodate the root ball as well, with just enough space so it is planted to the same depth as before.

Set the cape jasmine bush in the hole, then backfill the hole with the soil you just dug out. Tamp the area lightly to fill in large pockets of air, but do not pack it down so tightly that you compact the soil; it will not be able to drain sufficiently.

Water the cape jasmine with one inch of water, covering the entire root ball area. Water not only hydrates the bush, but it also settles the soil. Keep the excess soil on hand to add if the soil settles below the crown of the plant.