There are many reasons that digging up the summer lilac may be necessary. This includes, for example, a planned change of location or the fact that the shrub has simply become too large for a current place in the perennial bed. Whatever the reason for wanting to dig up your buddleia, these tips are guaranteed to help.
Small summer lilacs can still be transplanted without any problems
The best time to dig up the buddleia
The best time to dig up the shrub depends primarily on what you intend to do with the wood afterwards. If it is to be planted again at another location, it is advisable to transplant it during the vegetation break. It is therefore best to dig up the butterfly bushes in autumn - if possible in October or November - or in early spring, before they sprout. However, the shrub only survives a move during the summer months with a lot of luck, which is why you should only dig it up at this time if you want to dispose of it afterwards anyway.
Can an old summer lilac still be dug up?
Of course, an old summer lilac can still be dug up. If you want the shrub to go to the compost anyway, you don't need to pay attention to any special features - if you want to move it to a new location, you should be particularly careful and cut it back vigorously beforehand. Be aware, however, that transplanting becomes more difficult the longer the plant has been in place. On the other hand, younger specimens that are not yet too established are easier to transplant.
Dig up summer lilac - this is how you do it
When carefully digging up the summer lilac, it is best to proceed as follows:
- Cut back the buddleia by about a third.
- Tie the shoots together.
- Cut out the root area all around with a spade.
- Drive the spade deep into the ground.
- The optimal radius is about two thirds of the original growth height.
- Now take a digging fork and loosen the root ball.
- Lift out the root ball and the plant.
- Now you can plant the summer lilac in its new location.
Of course, pruning is not necessary if the shrub ends up on the compost after digging up. However, digging up a large shrub is easier for you if you cut off the shoots beforehand and then only have to remove the rootstock.
tips
Summer lilacs in pots should also be given fresh substrate every two to three years at the latest and a new planter if necessary.