Wisteria plants are graceful vines grown for their dramatic and fragrant purple flowers. There are two species, Chinese and Japanese, and both lose their leaves in the winter. You won’t have to pay a dime to get another wisteria plant if you already have one and love it. Watch for plants that grow from the living root of your wisteria vine and then read up on how to move these plants. Read on for information about transplanting wisteria suckers.
As a longtime gardener, I’ve tackled my fair share of transplanting tasks. And mature wisteria vines pose one of the toughest challenges! Their massive size deep roots and tendency to resent disturbance make relocating an established wisteria a daunting project.
But with proper technique, care, and timing, transplanting a wisteria is possible. In this article, I’ll share everything I’ve learned about safely and successfully moving these towering vines to a new location in your landscape.
Why Transplant an Established Wisteria Vine?
Before diving into the delicate process, you may be wondering why anyone would undertake transplanting a mature wisteria in the first place. Here are some common reasons
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The wisteria was planted in the wrong spot and has grown too large for its current location.
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Renovations or new construction require moving the vine.
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The plant needs more support than its current site provides.
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You want to propagate new wisteria vines by transplanting shoots.
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Disease or pest infestation forces relocation.
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Storm damage, erosion, or other hazards endanger the plant.
Whatever the impetus, relocating a huge wisteria is best tackled with proper planning and care to avoid shock and maximize the chances of survival.
Timing is Key for Transplanting Wisteria Vines
The most crucial factor for success in moving wisteria is timing. Transplant in the wrong season, and you can kiss your plant goodbye!
Here are the optimal time windows:
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Early spring – From first thaw until just before buds open. This allows plants to establish roots before summer.
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Late fall – After leaves drop until ground freezes. Gives roots winter to settle before growth resumes.
Avoid transplanting in summer when heat stresses plants. And never attempt to move wisteria during winter deep freezes, as frozen root balls will break apart.
Preparing to Transplant Wisteria Vines
Transplanting an oversized wisteria is a multi-step process requiring prep work. Here are key tasks to tackle ahead of time:
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Build an arbor, trellis, or other rigid support structure at the new site. Mature wisteria vines need sturdy anchors.
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Prune back the wisteria significantly in fall or early spring to reduce transplant shock. Cut all branches down to 10-12 inch nubs.
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Plan your transplanting route. Clear the path of obstructions and test maneuvering the large root ball.
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Arrange for digging assistance if needed. Rent equipment for extracting huge root balls.
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Amend and improve the new planting hole. Mix in rich compost and nutrients to aid recovery.
Don’t skip these critical pre-transplant steps! A smooth relocation hinges on thorough preparation.
How to Transplant Established Wisteria Vines
Once prep work is complete, here’s the process for carefully transplanting mature wisteria:
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Water thoroughly 1-2 days before transplanting. This aids root ball cohesion and minimizes transplant shock.
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Dig around the root ball’s perimeter to define the outer edge, then start undercutting and tunneling underneath. Target a diameter 2 feet wider than the main stem.
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Carefully excavate the root ball. Retain as much adhering soil as possible. Trim damaged roots but keep the main taproot intact.
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Lift the root ball using lifting straps if needed to avoid excessive strain and damage. Support the heavy dangling vines.
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Quickly move the wisteria to its prepared new home before roots dry out. Keep the root ball intact.
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Plant at the same depth as before, backfilling with nutrient-rich native soil. Pack firmly to remove air pockets.
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Water deeply and add mulch. Stake any leaning stems. Prune away any damaged branches.
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Provide attentive aftercare while the plant recovers from shock. Be patient – it may take several years for the wisteria to bloom again.
Follow these steps precisely, and you stand the best chance of helping your mature wisteria vine thrive in its new home. Avoid any shortcuts to prevent permanent harm.
Caring for Newly Transplanted Wisteria Vines
Relocating a wisteria stresses the plant and makes it vulnerable, requiring special aftercare. Here are tips to help transplants recover:
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Check soil moisture frequently and water whenever the top few inches become dry. Avoid underwatering.
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Fertilize monthly with a balanced 10-10-10 formula to aid growth.
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Stake stems and vines to support growth while new anchor roots establish.
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Monitor for signs of shock like leaf wilting or drop. Prune any dead stems.
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Keep the area weed-free to prevent competition for water and nutrients.
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Top dress with compost and mulch annually to enrich and insulate the soil.
With attentive care, even severely disturbed wisteria vines can bounce back and resume flourishing in their new settings.
Transplanting Wisteria Vines into Containers
An alternative to transplanting wisteria directly in garden soil is moving it into a large container. This adds flexibility should you need to reposition it in the future. Follow a similar transplant process, but choose an enormous sturdy pot and use a quality potting mix. Provide consistent watering in pots as they dry out faster than garden beds. Monitor to ensure vines don’t escape their containers and put anchor roots into soil!
Propagating Wisteria Vines from Transplanting Shoots
You can also propagate new wisteria plants by transplanting shoots from a parent vine using the layering method:
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Select young green shoot tips in spring once they harden off.
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Bend shoots downward and bury a few nodes in soil, retaining an above-ground growing tip.
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Anchor buried stems in place. Keep moist until roots establish in several weeks.
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Clip from the parent vine and transplant the new rooted vines to their permanent spots.
This is a great way to generate brand new wisteria plants from your established vines!
Transplanting a Wisteria Vine Takes Patience and Care
While certainly labor-intensive, transplanting a mature wisteria is an extremely rewarding process. In time, your vine will reward you with abundant cascading purple flowers. Just be sure to follow proper techniques and provide attentive aftercare. With luck and perseverance, your beloved wisteria will not only survive the move, but positively thrive in its new location!
Can You Plant Wisteria Suckers?
Plants propagate in different ways. Some, like the wisteria vines, send up offshoots called “suckers” from their underground roots. If you allow these suckers to grow, they form a close-knit hedgerow. Can you plant wisteria offshoots? Yes, you can. You can grow more wisteria plants from seeds or cuttings, or you can dig up suckers and use them as young plants that are ready to go to a new home. Moving wisteria shoots is not difficult if you know how and when to do it.
Suckers are not difficult to dig up and transplant. The best time to transplant your wisteria suckers is in late winter or early spring before bud break. Before you start removing a sucker, however, you should prepare the planting location. Pick a spot that gets at least six hours a day of sunlight. Dig out a hole for each sucker. The hole should be 2 feet (0. 5 m. ) across and 2 feet (0. 5 m. ) deep. Fill it with water and let it drain through. Then mix well-rotted compost into the soil. Pick a healthy sucker that is between one and two feet (0. 5 m. ) tall. Push your shovel into the area between the mother plant and the sucker. Sever the root holding the two together, then carefully pry out the sucker and its root ball. Gently remove any weeds that are on the sucker dirt. When moving wisteria suckers, make sure the top of the root ball is level with the soil by adding soil to the bottom of the planting hole. Then, place the root ball into the hole. It’s important to plant the wisteria shoot to the same depth as it was originally growing. Tuck the amended soil into the hole around the sucker. Pat it into place to eliminate air pockets. Then give the wisteria vine a generous drink of water. Keep the soil moist the first year after planting.
Spring Cleaning & Transplanting Growing Wisteria Tree And Bellissima Potentilla
How do you transplant Wisteria suckers?
Sever the root holding the two together, then carefully pry out the sucker and its root ball. Gently remove any weeds that are on the sucker dirt. When transplanting wisteria suckers, place the root ball into the planting hole, adding soil on the bottom of the hole to make sure that the top of the root ball is level with the soil.
When is the best time to transplant Wisteria?
The best time to transplant Wisteria is during its dormant period of late fall or early spring. If possible, early spring (between the end of March until early to mid-April) is best because your plant will benefit from the growing period and improved conditions after the shock of the move.
Can Wisteria be transplanted?
Transplanting wisteria is no walk in the garden, but it can be done. The downside of transplanting wisteria that is well established is that it may take several years for the vine to bloom again. The best time to transplant wisteria is in the late fall or early spring when the plant is dormant, but the soil is workable. Choose your site carefully.
How to plant Wisteria?
Plant your wisteria by inserting the root ball into the planting hole and make sure that the top of the soil is properly leveled with the soil. Keep in mind that wisteria must be planted at the same depth as before. Fill the entire hole with soil and firmly tamp it with your hands to get rid of air pockets. Do not forget to water.