How to Transplant a Camellia Bush

Direct Transplanting

• 1

  Transplant your camellia at the right time of year. Some gardeners prefer to transplant in the fall, while some do it in the spring. But the important thing is to make the move during the dormant period of the camellia, roughly from October to March.

• 2

  Move the camellia to a spot that gets sunshine in the morning, or choose one that gets intermittent sunshine.

• 3

  Add manure or compost if the soil in the new location needs enriching. The healthier the soil, the more successful the camellia plant will be.

• 4

  Dig the new hole no deeper than the root ball and double the root ball's width.

• 5

  Move the camellia carefully from its old location, preserving as much of the root system as possible.

• 6

  Tap the root ball to loosen the dirt, and then lower the camellia into the freshly dug hole.

• 7

  Cover the root ball with soil, and water thoroughly.

Trench Transplanting

• 8

  Dig a trench in the dirt around the camellia. Do this at the edge of the camellia canopy.

• 9

  Fill this trench with sand or peat, and leave it to develop new root growth.

• 10

  Transplant the camellia up to a year after trenching, being very careful to protect as much of the root system as possible.

• 11

  Prepare the new hole by digging no deeper than the old hole. This should be the depth of the root ball. The new hole should be of generous width, at least twice the size of the camellia's root ball.

• 12

  Fill in soil around the camellia, and water thoroughly.