Expert: Richard Clark - 4/25/2011

Question
Mr. Clark,
I've got a muscadine grape vine that's been planted about eight years.  It's about four feet tall, and spreads out into about a six foot circle, I'd estimate.  I want to move it to a better location (out of the middle of the yard) and into a larger area where I can string some wires between two posts and run the vines along them.  I know it'll take a lot of digging, and I do plan to get a good root-ball up to move with it.  Would it hurt the plant to go ahead and transplant it this spring, or would it be better to wait and transplant it this fall after it's gone dormant?
Any suggestions/advice you can offer is greatly appreciated.
Warm regards,
David Gardner

Answer
David
Your grape should be out of its dormancy which would only hurt the plant if you were to transplant it now. Your best bet would be to wait until this fall to transplant. You are correct it will take a lot of digging to move it. May you have an abundant harvest.
Richard