We live in Whitehorse, Yukon and purchased an acreage last summer. We have a lilac bush on the west side of our house that needs to be moved. It is doing well were it is and is about 5 feet tall. Unfortunately it is planted too close to the septic line and walkway. Can anyone offer information on how, when and where to move it.
Transplanting Yukon Lilac Your good luck is that one of today's volunteers lived many years in the Yukon and had a Russian lilac, the only lilac hardy enough to withstand the severe winters there. As soon as the ground is thawed enough to dig down one to two feet, you should move your shrub unless you wait until next fall. Dig around the perimeter just below the drip line and down as far as the major roots extend. After lifting the shrub prune back any damaged roots, and if you have lost many roots by the digging process prune back the shrub so that there is roughly the same proportion of roots to above ground structure that there was before you moved the plant. Remember the good rules of transplanting: Have the new hole to receive the shrub prepared in advance, prevent the exposed roots from prolonged exposure to drying air which can kill root hairs within minutes, plant the shrub so that the soil level on the stems is the same as it was, water well and pack soil around roots to prevent air spaces, and place a good mulch beneath the shrub to prevent it drying out during the next summer. Of course, you will need to keep it watered well until it is re-established.
