Goldenrod (Solidago species) is a perennial celebrated for its late-season burst of golden-yellow flowers, extending color into the autumn landscape. It provides a dependable source of nectar and pollen for various late-season butterflies and bees. Relocating a mature goldenrod requires careful planning to minimize stress and encourage rapid root establishment. This guide offers practical instructions for successfully moving this robust perennial.
Determining the Optimal Time for the Move
Relocating goldenrod is most successful when the plant is dormant, occurring either in early spring or late fall. Moving the plant during this resting phase, before new foliage emerges or after existing foliage dies back, limits the physiological shock it experiences. Dormancy means the plant requires less water and energy, allowing it to focus resources on repairing damaged roots.
Early spring, just as the ground thaws but before active growth begins, is often considered the preferred window, providing months for roots to develop before the summer heat. A late fall move should take place after the first hard frost, once the plant has finished flowering and begun to senesce. In areas with harsh winters, a spring move is safer. A fall move is suitable where winter is milder, provided the plant has several weeks to settle before the ground freezes.
Preparing the Goldenrod and the New Site
Preparation begins the day before the transplant by thoroughly saturating the soil around the existing goldenrod clump with water. Deep watering ensures the plant’s tissues are fully hydrated and helps the soil cling together, making extraction of an intact root ball simpler. For larger Solidago specimens, removing some of the above-ground foliage can significantly reduce the plant’s need for moisture, lessening the risk of wilting after the move.
The new planting location should be selected for full sun exposure and well-draining soil. Prepare the receiving hole by digging it to a width at least twice the diameter of the anticipated root ball. The depth of the hole should match the height of the root ball exactly, ensuring the plant’s crown will sit level with the surrounding grade. Preparing the hole in advance prevents the roots from drying out while the plant is being moved.
Executing the Physical Transplant
To begin the move, use a sharp spade to cut a circle six to eight inches away from the base of the stems, penetrating deep into the soil to sever outlying roots. Carefully work the spade beneath the root ball to lift the entire clump, keeping the surrounding soil intact to protect the fine feeder roots. For mature or aggressively spreading varieties, this is the ideal time to divide the plant by slicing the large clump into smaller sections.
Each divided section should contain a healthy mass of roots and several growth buds. Before placing the plant in the prepared hole, gently tease apart any tightly matted or circling roots to encourage outward growth. Set the root ball into the new hole so that the original soil line on the stem is flush with the new ground level. Backfill the hole with the excavated soil, gently firming the soil around the roots to eliminate air pockets.
Essential Aftercare for Successful Establishment
Immediately after the physical transplant is complete, the goldenrod requires a deep, thorough watering to settle the soil and eliminate any remaining air pockets around the roots. This initial watering is a powerful mechanism for establishing good soil-to-root contact, which is necessary for water uptake. Following this, the soil must be kept consistently moist for the first four to six weeks as the plant works to establish new roots in the unfamiliar ground.
A two- to three-inch layer of organic mulch, such as shredded bark or compost, should be applied over the planting area, keeping the material a few inches away from the plant stems. Mulch application helps regulate the soil temperature and slows the rate of water evaporation from the soil surface. Successful establishment is signaled by a lack of prolonged wilting and the appearance of new, vigorous growth, after which the plant’s watering needs will naturally decrease.