Transplanting Camellias

 Has anyone had any success transplanting camellias ?  We are in the Hunter
valley and have a three year old plant we want to move - any suggestions?
Geoff & Heather

 wrote:
 

I'm assuming the plant was planted 3 years ago and is not just 3 years old.  It
would have been 3-4
years old in a 200mm bucket when sold,

Wait until early July.  

Apply Seasol 3 weeks before the move then again about 5 days before.  Dig a big
hole and try to get
as much or the roots as you can.  Slip something like hessian or plastic under
the rootball, lift it
out using the hessian or plastic to stop the rootball falling apart and replant
into some good soil.
I like to use Camellia and Azalea potting mix, even though it is designed for
potted plants.  It is
great in the garden.

Apply Seasol again and all should be well.

In September give it a little cow manure and some blood and bone.

 Thanks for the advice - we'll give it a go.

Geoff & Heather

 rainman@mailinator.com writes:
wrote:

[Good advice snipped]


If it was me I think I'd be inclined to snip off two thirds of its mature
leaves, one by one, so it loses a lot less moisture after the move. The
Aug/Sept winds can be very drying. I wouldn't touch the new leaves near
the tips of each branch though. I had good intentions of moving a 6' high
camellia once, but after nearly digging to China found its roots just went
on and on and the hole was becoming big enough for a swimming pool!
--
John Savage                   (my news address is not valid for email)

 Thanks for the advice John - cutting the leave back usually pays dividends.
As you can see we are getting hesitant support for this move - not like a
similar request about lemon trees where the consensus was - go for it.

Geoff & Heather