Moving a wisteria

I've got a Japanese wisteria that is about 6 years old (I think?) has stretched about 6' in several directions and is branching freely. I can see all the incipient flower buds starting to appear.

Trouble is, It is in the way of the projected new greenhouse site. I was planning to build the greenhouse around it, or rather, keep it planted inside the greenhouse and make an aperture for the trunk to go out of. (A bit like what they do with grapevines but in reverse.) I could dig it up later in the Autumn, except then I'd have a greenhouse paving/slabbing problem to deal with as well!

It would be far more sensible to dig it up and resite it as they are big plants and it would be bound to cause trouble in the future. Not sure if I can bear to do it and ruin the flowering, but has anyone got any experience of moving wisteria? Do they have big root balls? Will it kill it? Is it too late for this year? Etc etc. Let me know your thoughts.

 

I bought a Wisteria two years ago and dug it up a year later and gave to next door neighbour.

I was amazed at how much the roots had grown - it was a real pain to get out and subsequently died.

 

Ah. Maybe it would be a really bad idea to build a greenhouse on top of it, even so?

 

On a gardening program I saw some time back, they recommend mixing seaweed extract with some water in a watering can and irrigating the transplanted flower/plant with it as it reduces shock.
Don't know how effective this is and if it's suitable for all plants though.

 

Dave it does work , we do similar with daylily bought through the post which are bare rooted

@Madahhlia , to be honest I dont rate it chances with digging up now , really should of been done in the autumn to give it a chance plus a good prune as well at the same time would of helped reduce the stress, the roots are large and extensive , sap has started to rise and mine like yours the buds are swelling , its a shame but you could always plant another one in its memory.

Spruce

 

Thank you for confirming @Spruce.

 

I had a couple in the greenhouse, in pots, last year and went to plant them in the autumn to find that they had massively rooted through the bottom of their pots. No idea if they will survive or not, but I'm not sure their chances are very good.

Pretty sure I read somewhere that they dislike root disturbance. But if its going to be in the way anyway then what's to lose? Worst case you'll have to get a replacement ...

If you can, easily, wait until the Autumn I think that will give you a better chance, if the greenhouse is going up soon then I would move it now, and water loads during the summer.

 

What do you think of the idea of keeping the roots inside the greenhouse (because they are on the footprint of the anticipated greenhouse) but feeding the trunk/branches to the outside? I might do that then move it in the Autumn.

 

sounds a good idea , in the mean time measure from the main trunk 18 inches all around and make a mini trench a good spade depth and when you find roots cut through them , then fill up with a multipurpose compost , this will encourage new fiberous roots to grow which will help when moving later in the year.
When moving under cut where the trench was and slide some thick plastic under and then rootball it to stop it falling apart , tie the top altogether.

Spruce