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Transplanting an established & mature Fatsia japonica

Last post 28-08-2009 9:57 AM by aspidistra. 4 replies.

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  • 12/06/2009 02:36 PM
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     Hello all,

     I've never had to transplant a Fatsia japonica before & although it's not the right time of year to transplant it, I have to move the plant from an area of garden that will no longer be garden in the next week or so. 

    The Fatsia  I want to transplant is about 1.2m tall & about .75m wide.

    I'm putting it in an appropriate spot - same light conditions & soil tilth as its current home.

     I've read the RHS advice about shrub establishment: http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0405/treeshrubplanting.asp

     I've dug a new hole for it about 1m wide & .75m deep.  I am not sure how deep the plant's root system goes down in situ at the moment, so once I go to dig it up if I need to go deeper I will.

    Shall I prune it hard prior to the transplant?  Or shall I leave the current growth on the plant?

     What is the best soil amendment to add to the soil to help the mature plant re-establish?  Or shall I just put loads of organic matter into the hole, put the root ball in & then fill with the soil?

    I will water it lovingly & according to need once it is transplanted, so I hope it won't be unhappy about that.  If I add soil amendment to the soil should I feed also or let it toughen up to its new site naturally?

    Any suggestions or advice for success?

    Many thanks!

     

  • 18/06/2009 08:07 PM
    • taddy
    • United Kingdom
    • 25 May 2009
    • 6
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    I am a novice gardener but I had 2 very large fatsia japonicas [1 about 4m high, and 1 about 3m high] that I had grown in large pots. We moved house and I gave them to a friend. We just dug holes in her garden about the same size as the containers and stuck them in! We didn't prune them or add anything to the soil. Like I said I am a novice!!!!! They have been fine. Don't know if that was just good luck but thought I inform you of the experience we had with them.

  • 25/08/2009 10:06 PM
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     I've got a large fatsia that I need to transplant before we have building work done next year.  I'm encouraged that they can be moved successfully but was wondering what time of year would be best.  

  • 25/08/2009 10:23 PM
    • sue1002
    • Ipswich, Suffolk
    • 06 Sep 2005
    • 5,200
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     This page should help you aspidistra, it looks like the best time to move it would be in October or late March.

    http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1000/moving_plants.asp

    sue1002
  • 28/08/2009 09:57 AM
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     Thanks Sue - looks like I'll be digging it up in October and hoping for the best!