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Transplant Shock in Red Twig Dogwood and Lilac: Proper Moving Technique

Transplanted 4-year-old red twig dogwood 2 weeks ago—watered well, now leaves falling, plant limp. Want to move 2 lilacs same age. How to avoid killing them?

Classic Transplant Shock

Roots severed → can't support top growth. Fall/winter dormant season is best for woody plants.

Correct Transplant Protocol

Timing: Late fall (after leaf drop) or early spring (before bud break)
Root ball: 12″ diameter per inch of stem caliper
Pre-dig hole: 2–3× root ball width, same depth
No soil amendment in backfill
Water thoroughly after planting
Mulch 3″, keep off stems
Anti-desiccant spray on evergreens

For Current Dogwood

Keep watered (not soggy)
Don't fertilize
Wait for spring—may recover from crown

See Auburn guide for details: Planting BMPs

Plant Diseases: Red Tip Photinia Base Fungus: Root Rot, Replace; Propagating Red Twig Dogwood: Cuttings, Layering, and Suckers; Red Twig Dogwood Covered in Flaky Gray Growth: Armored Scale Infestation; Red Dogwood Leaf Browning in NE Alabama: Likely Anthracnose or Blight; Saving a Waterlogged Red Robin (Photinia) After Transplanting; Dogwood Shrub Twig Blight: Prune and Fertilize; Transplanting Red Twig Dogwood: Timing and Root Stimulator; Dogwood 'Red Twig': Coral‑Red Winter Stems for Seasonal Interest; Weigela 'Red Prince': Rich Red Blooms on a Compact Mounding Shrub; Red Dogwood Blooming White? Rootstock Has Taken Over

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