How to Transplant a Purple Lilac in the Spring

Dig into the soil around the base of the lilac in fall with a spade. Dig a circle that is a manageable size for you to move. As a general rule, create a circle that is 12 inches in diameter and 9 inches deep if the lilac is 2 feet tall. Add 2 inches in diameter and 1 to 2 inches in depth for every additional foot the lilac is in height. This root pruning helps prepare a lilac for transplanting in spring.

Water the lilac one day before removing it from the ground in spring. Apply 1 inch of water under the lilac's canopy to ensure it is well-hydrated for the transition.

Dig a hole in the lilac's new planting location, ideally in full sun. The hole should be two times as large as the root ball you are going to dig out and just as deep. Toss about one-half of the soil on a tarp and incorporate an additional 25 percent of organic matter, such as leaf mold or compost. You will likely not need the other one-half of soil.

Dig into the soil around the lilac at the same diameter and depth as you did in spring for the root pruning. Cut under the shrub at a 45-degree angle around the circle, then push down on the spade's handle. Lift the root ball from the ground carefully, grabbing the base as necessary. Slide a piece of burlap underneath the root ball and tie it around the base to keep the soil and roots intact.

Set the root ball in the hole, untie the burlap and slide it out from underneath. Back-fill with the amended soil to fill in the rest of the hole. Tamp the soil lightly to remove large pockets of air. Water the lilac with 1 inch of water. Apply 3 or 4 inches of mulch over the site to help the soil stay moist and to prevent the soil from heaving during the winter. Keep the mulch 2 inches from the lilac's stems to avoid rot.