Removing camellias from pot and planting in ground

A recent thread on here reminded me that I have two camellias - a Japonica and a Cuspidata hybrid in a 50 litre plastic container in the woodland part of my garden. They look healthy, with developing buds and are about 6 or 7 years old.

I am thinking now they would be better planted in the ground in the same place that they are currently. The container is sitting on the soil - quite possibly with tree roots from neighbouring deciduous broadleaves making the ground undiggable. The camellia roots may have already ventured through the container into the soil.

Is it very risky to try to remove and plant out the camellias?
How much root pruning would be needed? Is now the best time of year to do it?

Some days I don't have much strength to lift and shift, due to fluctuating health,which worsens in the winter, so I was thinking of either doing this job in October or before next autumn.

I would probably have to create a raised bank if the tree roots are pronounced.

Help appreciated!

 

Until you dig you'll never know whether the ground is infested with tree roots and if so, how big they are. If I need to underplant trees, the hole gets dug with a heavy, very sharp spade which chops through any roots in the way. The trees don't seem to suffer. I find Camellias don't tend to have spreading roots anyway, so a hole perhaps 30cm wider all round than the pot, filled with a suitable mix of soil and soil improver, would be enough. You might need to keep a close eye on watering in the hottest, driest months, but then if they're in pots, no doubt you have to water them anyway? I'd do it now, because any sort of moving or planting here has to be done before winter and spring, allowing cooler temps and high rainfall to settle them in. Not sure about UK zone 9a though

 

Only reservations are if the ground is full of tree roots its likely to be starved and very dry in the summer months.
So probably might suffer next summer if not watered really well.

 

Thankyou, @noisette47 that is very helpful. I would like to try to do this job but I think the tree roots are going to be a pain. I have not tried lifting the pot the camellias are in yet, because I injured my shoulder and back recently. It sounds as though the digging of the soil is going to be the most taxing part and I don't think I have a sharp or heavy enough spade. I checked the moisture levels in the pot and it is very moist. I do water regularly of course. The area isn't very open to the sky, due to the taller trees and shrubs, so it is quite shady. It is the perfect spot,apart from the suspected tree roots....I will try to have a look there soon, to get a better idea of how difficult it will be.

 

Thankyou, @pete yes good point. The soil will need building up won't it. I am thinking I might even need to create a slight raised bank to plant the camellias into. This might make the digging job less taxing. The other thought was maybe a bottomless container, if I cannot dig through enough. The hope being the container could then be removed in time. Maybe a temporary 'container' or 'edging' made with logs or bricks could work, again with no bottom! I just need the camellia roots to get into the ground unhindered, in order for them to grow freely.

 

I'd agree that the site may not be ideal for the reasons @pete gives.
If you don't have a better site, the only worthwhile solution is to go up, as long as that won't affect the trees, or anything else nearby. Better done now, as already said, so that you get the benefit of winter dampness. It also depends on whether the surrounding shrubs/ trees are deciduous or evergreen, and how mature they all are. That affects moisture levels all year round.
You may find that you'll spend a lot of time watering and adding material to get it well established. A smaller specimen would be easier, but a larger one isn't so simple.
A photo would also be useful.

I don't know what zone 9a is either - it would be helpful to know roughly your location/climate. The zonal thing is a USA/Canada device rather than a UK one.

 

9a is pretty much frost free I would guess.
Coastal southern England.

 

Thankyou @fairygirl , I think the other plants will be ok and I have already built up a small raised 'bank' for a fargesia which is next to the tub of camellias, so I could extend it. I used logs to create different 'plateaus'.

The raised tree roots are from neighbouring deciduous trees (large, 50 foot plus). I have been plying that area of the garden with compost mulches frequently, though not particularly with ericaceous compost. I let the leaves from the fargesia settle on the ground, to be dug in by the worms. Buddleia leaves and Sorbus leaves also settle there, along with ceanothus leaves and anything else that frequently floats down.

I will try to get a photo. I have changed the location info to make it more helpful, thank you for reminding me.

 

Thankyou @pete - I thought I had better make my climate and location info more useful to anyone giving advice.

 

I think summer moisture may be the biggest problem for it. You need really persistent, regular rainfall to ensure it gets through tree canopies. It may be a bridge too far for it.

 

Thankyou, @fairygirl. I had a quick look tonight and could not move the tub, so it looks as though the camellias won't be decanting at all, but the tub is a bit ugly. At least the plants are getting adequate moisture at present. I need to disguise the tub though. Will try to get a photo.