Garden & Landscape plant articles > Transplanting/moving a Japanese Maple in a pot

Transplanting/moving a Japanese Maple in a pot

Question & Answers

Hi,

    I have a 16 year old Japanese maple which is pot bound in a half wine barrel.  It seems in great condition although, I've never fed it.  There's a chance it might have sent roots through the bottom of the pot into the ground, it's about 7 feet tall.  I'm moving interstate soon and I'd like to take it with me.  Any ideas? 

Answer:

Hello,

        The best time to transplant or move your Japanese maple is in winter when it has lost it's leaves.    Once the plant has lost it's leaves you will be able to prune it back or prune back the roots.   If you would like to remove it from the pot for transplantation you can easily do this in winter without damage to the plant.   You can take it out of the pot,  remove some of the soil and prune back the roots.  You will still need to keep the roots moist by wrapping up the root ball in some plastic sheeting and typing this off around the truck.   You can keep it in the bag/wrap for weeks and if you keep the moisture up for months.  However it must be put back into a pot or in the ground in late winter before spring.   If you need to move your Japanese maple before winter you can do this also, however you will have to prune back the foliage on the branches and also a very light prune of the roots.    Transplanting outside winter tends to put the plant back somewhat and in situations where it is not thrive at all. 





Fast Find Menu