How to Dig Up Bushes With Roots

When digging up bushes to transplant, take care to keep the root system or root ball intact. The ideal time to remove a bush is in the spring once the ground has thawed but before the buds begin to swell. If the bush is deciduous, you can also remove it in the fall after the leaves drop but before the first frost so the roots can establish themselves. Properly digging up the bush helps keep the majority of the root ball intact.

Pruning shears
Twine
Digging spade
Tarp
Sharp knife or blade

Instructions

- 1
  Remove and discard any damaged or diseased foliage or branches from the bush. Water the bush two to three days before removing it.
- 2
  Tie any low branches to avoid damaging them during the removal process.
- 3
  Dig a 12-inch deep and wide trench around the bush if it is a small bush. Dig a 15- to 24-inch trench for larger bushes. This keeps the entire root ball and the attached soil intact. Use a sharp spade to cut cleanly through the roots.
- 4
  Place the spade under the root ball to undercut the roots before lifting the plant from the ground. All the roots have to be severed before lifting or you could injure the roots.
- 5
  Place the bush on a piece of tarp. Inspect the root system for any damaged or kinked roots. Sever those with a sharp blade before replanting the bush. This prevents girdling of the bush, according to North Dakota University Extension.
- 6
  Place the bush in a hole three times the size of the root ball and at the same depth it was in the first hole. Backfill the hole, tamping the soil against the roots firmly. Water deeply to eliminate air pockets.

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