Transplnating Burning Bush

Question

The article on transplanting burning bush says to do it in the fall so roots can grow over winter. Yet the ground is frozen all winter. Should this article be corrected? – not all locations have warm winters. I have a bush that I need to move and cannot afford a mistake.
Thanks

Answer 1

Fall is a good time to transplant even in cold areas. Roots will keep working until the ground freezes to the roots’ depth. Burning bush will have young roots at least 6 inches deep. It takes at least a month of very cold weather to freeze that deep leaving 2-3 months for root establishment. Transplanting in spring is possible but spring weather is variable and some years are warm, almost hot, and dry. This is very challenging to a large plant that is trying to establish roots and put out new leaves at the same time. For fall transplants, water until the ground freezes to keep the new roots from drying out.