Expert: Mike Mascio - 11/20/2009

Question
IT IS NOVEMBER 20TH AND ABOUT 60 DEGREES. IT WILL BE IN THE 60s FOR THE NEXT 7 DAYS.  I WOULD LIKE TO REPLANT ONE OF MY BUSHES IN MY FLOWER BED.  I JUST WANT TO MOVE IT BACK IN AN MORE APPROPRIATE SPOT. I DO NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THE BUSH, AS IT WAS HERE WHEN I MOVED HERE. BUT WOULD THIS BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO REPLANT THIS BUSH OR WOULD I HARM IT BY REPLANTING IT NOW.  I LIVE IN EASTERN NC.

Answer
There is a risk in moving it now. The plant would need at least 4 weeks before a hard frost in order for the roots to establish and the plant to survive. It is always best to transplant in early fall, but spring is also acceptable. Rather than taking the chance, I would wait until spring.

Good luck, and have a great weekend.

Mike