We're planning on building a new deck this spring and don't want to loose the 2 beautiful climbing hydrangea that have currently creeped up the old deck. The plants are 3-4 years old and appear very healthy, but I've read they don't like to be moved.

Does anyone have any tips on how to transplant them with the least risk?

thanks - spence

when you transplant anything....sensative or otherwise
you need to be aware of several things
first: is the critical rotational position... ..>> mark the staulk somehow<<
or in other words ...the plants orientation or position to the sun...
so if its on the east side....it needs to grow again on the east side..

second: anytime you dig up something you generally are killing off the finest
roots ((almost invisable to the naked eye...)) and as a result it becomes out of balance....meaning now..
the roots cannot SUPPORT the above ground growth.
So you have to trim it back proportionally to restore the balance.

third: make sure that the recieving hole where your going to transplant it to...
has deeper soil than before....so its loving life afterwards and not put into a less friendly
---> soil environment...throw in some bone meal for flowering
and or make sure it gets the same amount of sun ,shade, or watering as before...
the recieving hole should be prepared
well in advance of removing it.....
so that the dug up plant sits with its roots drying up
for the least amount of time as possible....
like..... less than a minute...!!!

make sure you step on the soil a bit to remove
any air pockets as you go.

Dig a $50 hole for a $20 plant. Compost added to soil. Nice and loose. Hydrangea's don't like too much afternoon, hottest part of the day, sun. Make sure you get a good size rootball and keep watered during dry spells this summer. Mulch the roots, not up against trunk. Might need to cut it back this year too. Also get it done before season gets too hot. Pretty much what was said up above. Good luck. P.M.

spence....is that plants have a crown line....where the stem or staulk was above the ground...the demarcation zone between the top growth and the roots.... some plants thrive when planted deeper...others die as a result of having their crown line submerged below the soil line....so to avoid risk...make sure to plant it at the same height as before....

and PM i loved your line about the $50 dollar hole....

of course it reminded me of the too full a bag JOKE :hee:

Thanks for the advice. I'm pretty good with moving plants but this will certianly help with the stuff that doesn't like to be moved...

Gotta get the work done so I can fish :ss:

-spence