Hi all, We moved 2 years ago and have a nice hibiscus in the backyard (Vancouver). It blooms every year, but we are redoing the garden and giving it to friends on the Sunshine coast (Gibsons). It has started to put out leaves -- I've read that hibiscus plants are pretty resilient and will transplant well, but is it too late to dig it up now that it has started to put out leaves? Also, same friends will be taking a couple of mature boxwoods (balls, about 3-feet). Is it OK to dig these out and move them now? New growth already happening on the boxwoods as well. Lastly - is the Sunshine coast too dry for these plants? Thanks! ray (newby gardener)
Timing is very poor. I would wait until fall, after the hibiscus was leafless and the box were done growing also.
We just got some small hardy hibiscus plants, also just starting to leaf out. They are going in the ground PDQ. It may be possible to move yours now, but that may depend largely on how big the plants are. If you can't get it done pretty much now, Ron is right, leave it. You would have to make sure you got pretty much the whole root. And I can't remember if it helps to keep the north facing side of the plant facing north when it is transplanted or not, but it can't hurt. We tie something to a north facing branch before moving it. I wouldn't be too worried about the sunshine coast being too dry, this is, after all, the WET COAST!
thanks, cocobolo -- we've decided to leave it until the fall, but when we move it we'll tie a ribbon 'round the north of the tree... cheers! ray
