I have some shrubs that are too crowded. I read that February and March are the best months to plant or move trees and shrubs. Is that really true given our rainy weather?
Yes, although the weather is usually rainy, there are breaks in the weather when planting can be done quite comfortably. Roots begin growing at colder temperatures than leaves. Planting when it is cool and soil is moist gives roots a chance to get established before they have to support new top growth. This is particularly true when plants are moved to a new location. There is always a loss of roots when plants are moved. Much less care and attention are needed than during hotter weather.
- Moving plants too large for their planting space
A common problem with almost all landscapes is to have plants installed which outgrow their space and intrude on walks, walls or windows. February and March is the ideal time to move trees and shrubs while they are dormant. If shrubs are too close together, now is a good time to remove some of them, giving the remaining shrubs enough room to be attractive without shearing them into artificial shapes.
Landscape contractors can move quite large trees and shrubs, using a “tree spade.”
When shopping for new replacement plants, be sure to check the mature height and width. This is the size the plant will reach in five to 10 years. Ultimate sizes (after 12 or more years) can be as much as a third larger than “mature size” in the Pacific Northwest.