Moving shrubs

tommyjin83

So we are doing renovation in our house and as a result we have asked the builder to move our shrubs to a new planter. (see photos)

This happened about 3-4 weeks ago.

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Some of leaves starting to become brown, yellow. I’d hate to see them ruined.

What do you guys think? Should I get professional gardener to take a look?

Baybay

I think they will be ok. It can be disturbing for established plants when they’re moved, even if done carefully. As it’s autumn, most shrubs will be closing down a little for the winter so they’ll probably be concentrating on having their roots happy for now. Growth, leaves etc will probably be secondary until spring. Perhaps the quality of light & sunshine has also changed with the move so, coupled with autumn conditions, they may experience an adjustment period.

Not any kind of a professional gardener btw but have planted a few things in the wrong places over the years & that’s been my experience.

looksee

Its a bit difficult to tell what is happening there. Is the plastic over the shrubs? Why is it there? Have they been watered? Is the plastic keeping rain off? Were they well watered when they were moved? Yes you can move shrubs at this time of year (though they were moved a month ago, which is early), but they are very big to be moving at all. Especially if they were moved with minimum root and soil. More importantly, asking a builder to move shrubs is a very bad idea, they are notorious for not being gardeners.

I would be inclined to cut off all wilting branches and generally cut down the shrubs to remove the amount of leaf they roots have to support, but I would not be all that confident they will survive.

tommyjin83

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122747788#Comment_122747788

Thanks for the replies. There are no plastics and I think the stuff in the picture are just bit of building material waste. To be honest, I hadn’t thought about asking a professional to move the shrubs as we need something to put in the planter and the builder suggested that they could move these shrubs from one side of the garden to this new location. In hindsight, I should’ve probably asked professional to move them. Not sure if the builder have watered them at all (most likely not).

Any ideas how much these will cost to buy (matured shrubs like these)?

looksee

Ah, I think what I am seeing is reflection from the photo being taken through a window? That makes more sense.

Are the shrubs in their final place or are you going to move them again? Its hard to see the planter, but I think its a section of open ground between the fence and the paving? Laurel that close to a fence and a window may be a bit of a liability, they are vigorous normally and could quickly be in the way. They are probably a bit sheltered from rainwater. Go and put a minimum of a bucket of water on each shrub, trim back any wilty looking growth and wait and see.

wildwillow

Laurel is tough and will probably survive. It is not ideal in a container as the roots get very large and watering would be a real nuisance.

Water it well and check it is moist as the foliage can keep rain off the roots. For insurance take a few cuttings. Having less foliage will help the plant and it takes root easily and you will have a replacement plant.

Expect some loss of leaf but don't worry until late spring as it will sprout from the branches. It is not a great small garden plant unless kept strictly under control.

tommyjin83

Thanks so much guys.

I obviously haven’t been thinking about this carefully and just decided to go with builder suggestion to move them to the planter. This is obviously trying to save the cost of getting new plant/shrubs.

We need to have a relatively tall hedging (taller than 6ft) to keep privacy from the neighbour. Without these we would be looking at each other while we are sitting down having dinners.