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how do i transplant a yucca plant

by Cassie Wolf Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

How do I transplant a yucca plant?

  • Move yucca plants in the fall when temperatures are mild for best transplanting success.
  • Put on work gloves.
  • Spread a piece of landscape fabric or burlap on the ground near the base of the yucca plant.
  • Dig a hole at the new planting site.
  • Add one shovelful of compost and one of sand to the displaced soil.

Part of a video titled How to move yuccas |Daphne Richards - YouTube
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Some of the roots will be large and they need to be cut which will leave a wound. And you'll need toMoreSome of the roots will be large and they need to be cut which will leave a wound. And you'll need to give that wound. Time to heal before you stick it in the ground.

Full Answer

When is the best time to transplant yucca plants?

  • Cut a stem off your yucca plant in late spring or early summer.
  • Prune leaves and thatch from the bottom 12 inches of the yucca stem cutting.
  • Dig a planting hole at least 12 inches deep in well-drained soil that gets sun most of the day.

How do you transplant a yucca?

Things You Will Need

  • Thick gloves
  • Long-sleeve shirt
  • Goggles
  • Shovel
  • Chalk
  • Drop cloth

Can you split a yucca plant?

You might be able to divide the yucca plant without digging it up. If you look around the base of the plant, you will see the smaller clumps of baby plants on smaller rhizomes, called offsets. Rhizomes look more like twisted underground branches than roots, and you don't have to be as gentle with them as you do with exposed root systems.

Is cutting the yucca plant illegal?

Under California Penal Code Section 384a a person shall not willfully or negligently cut, destroy, mutilate, or remove plant material that is growing upon state or county highway rights-of-way.

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What is the best time to transplant a yucca plant?

fallFor most plants, it is best to transplant when the plant is dormant. Yucca transplanting can technically be done at any time of the year. However, in regions with mild winters, it is best to move the plant in fall. That way the roots can establish before the hot temperatures arrive.

How deep do you transplant a yucca plant?

Transplanting Yucca Plants Dig a planting hole that is the exact same depth of the root ball and twice as wide. Add a mound of soil to the center of the planting hole that is 1 to 2 inches thick.

Can you cut the top off a yucca and replant?

If your yucca gets too tall, you can shorten it by sawing it off at the point you want it to regrow from. It will look bare for a little while, but new shoots will grow from below the cut. The pieces you have cut off can be used to grow new plants (see below).

How do you divide and transplant yuccas?

1:233:33Garden Tutorial: Dividing Yuccas For Propagation (Yucca Rostrata)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBayonets. So the key to using a machete though is that you have to hold it taut hold those leavesMoreBayonets. So the key to using a machete though is that you have to hold it taut hold those leaves taunt.

Do yuccas transplant well?

Yuccas transplant reliably well during the early summer and autumn months and will steadily establish a productive root system if planted in a sunny bed with draining soil, says the University of Vermont Department of Plant and Soil Science.

Can you dig up a yucca plant?

When you dig up yucca, try to get as much of the roots as possible. Every piece of root, regardless of how small, will inevitably produce a new plant. Therefore, you may need to periodically check the area for young sprouts and remove them either by digging them up or by dousing them with full strength herbicide.

Should I cut the brown tips off my yucca plant?

Trim away any of the dead roots so your Yucca can start to grow healthier ones. Your first instinct for an underwatered Yucca might be to give it lots of water to make up for the lack of it. But this will actually just cause further issues.

Should you cut dead leaves off yucca plant?

As an ornamental yucca tree grows, the older leaves at the bottom die off, turning brown and dry. You can wait for these leaves to fall off naturally, but you may prefer to keep your yucca looking fresh and green by removing the dead leaves.

Can I cut a yucca plant in half?

If your Yucca is getting too tall for your liking or for you to manage then, you can reduce its height by cutting the stem in half. For this, you need a knife or a pair of shears, a saw, and a pot with adequate potting soil. First, you need to remove any leaves down the stem of the plant.

How do you take a cutting from a yucca plant?

Cuttings should ideally be taken in the spring, though they can be taken into the summer if needed. Use sharp, clean shears to cut at least 3 inches (or more) (7.5 cm.) from the plant as the cutting. Once you take the cutting, strip all but the top few leaves away from the cutting.

How do you dig up yucca root?

0:561:57Growing & Caring for Foliage Plants : How to Dig Up a Yucca - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou kind of have to stab it down in there till you feel like you've severed. It. Pull it out. OkayMoreYou kind of have to stab it down in there till you feel like you've severed. It. Pull it out. Okay so that's a pretty nice little little rhizome.

How to transplant yuccas?

1. Prepare yuccas for transplant approximately five days before moving them. Mark the south-facing side of the plant with chalk so you can orient it correctly when transplanting it. 2. Measure out an 8-inch radius around the base of the plant. Dig down to a depth of 15 inches along the radial line using a shovel.

How long does it take for a yucca to dry out?

Store the yucca in a shady spot with freely circulating air for approximately five days, or until the roots dry out slightly and take on a whitish appearance. Place the rootball on a sheet of burlap or plastic to prevent soil contact.

How to get rid of blackened roots on a plant?

Slip the blade underneath the rootball and pry it loose from the ground. Lift the plant from the ground and fill in the hole left by it. Snip off any blackened, soggy or damaged-looking roots using a pair of very sharp, clean scissors. Sever the roots at least 1/4 inch above the damaged area.

How to grow yucca in a container?

Use the new soil you purchased to fill in the sides around the rootball. Don't pack the soil, but make sure it is nice and firm. Put a thin layer of soil over the rootball as well. If the yucca plant is very big, consider using stakes so that it does not fall over.

How to remove a plant from an old container?

Carefully remove the plant from the old container. Look at the rootball and examine the root structure. If you see a lot of large roots wrapped around the bottom of the rootball, untangle them. It's also a good idea to cut off the longer ones using a sharp knife or pruning shears.

How to get rid of rhizomes in a pot?

Make sure you dig around the rhizomes, being careful not to cause damage. Remove some of the old soil that is stuck around the edges and bottom of the rootball. Place a layer of soil on the bottom of the new pot, and then put the rootball on top of the soil.

How to get yucca to grow in hole?

Create a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball and as deep as the root ball is high. Set the yucca plant upright in the hole. Cut the strings and slide the fabric carefully out from under the root ball. Remove any damaged or broken roots using a pair of pruning shears.

What zone is yucca hardy?

Yucca plants are an ideal choice for gardeners who want to include low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plants in their yards. The graceful spinelike succulent leaves characteristic of yuccas provide an unusual texture to garden plantings. These plants are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 5 to 11 ...

How to dig a plant with a shovel?

Push the shovel straight down into the ground and then slightly angle it inward, working your way down and under the roots. Repeat this di gging process around the entire plant. Work your way around the trench again, using the shovel as a lever to lift the root ball of the plant upward.

How far apart should I cut a yucca rhizome?

Cut the rhizome with a gardening knife approximately 4 to 5 inches from the base of the baby yucca. Make sure the rhizome includes several capillary roots so it can gather nutrients once potted.

How to make a potting mix for a baby yucca?

Combine equal measures of succulent potting soil and coarse sand to create a potting mix for the baby yucca. Fill the bottom third of a 6-inch nursery container with the mix.

How often should I water a baby yucca?

Water the baby yucca with 1 cup of water every 10 days. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. Decrease water to 1/4 cup every 10 days during the winter.

When should I remove yucca babies?

Remove the babies from a healthy, mature yucca plant in autumn when the plant is beginning its winter dormancy. Locate a healthy baby with well-developed, fully green foliage. Avoid those with pale or white foliage since they have not fully photosynthesized and cannot live apart from the mother plant.

Can you transplant a yucca pup?

Transplanting young yucca - known as pups - is quite easy and adapt well to be separated. Basically, you just want to dig up the young pups, separating them from the original plant and making sure that they have some viable roots. If necessary cut into the original plant's root system, but do not include any dead or mushy plant matter associated with the parent plant that died.

How to get yucca leaves out of clump?

Put on sturdy pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and gloves. Yucca leaves are sharp enough to do real damage to bare skin. Use a sharp shovel to dig a circle around the entire plant, a few inches out from the plant. Now you’re ready to lift the entire clump. Be careful not to damage the yucca’s trunk.

How many types of yucca are there?

Image by KHellon. There are more than 50 types of yucca and all are formidable plants with stiff, sword-shaped leaves. Although these sturdy plants require very little care, yucca division may be necessary if the plant overgrows its boundaries or if you want to share with friends and family. Read on to learn how to split a yucca.

Can you dig out yuccas?

Be careful not to damage the yucca’s trunk. At this point, you can dig out offshoots (there will probably be several). If the roots are tangled, you may need to pry them apart. This is a good time to remove and discard any hard, unproductive stems or rotted roots from the parent plant.

How long does it take for a yucca to grow?

A transplanted yucca can take up to six months to become established. During this time, the leaves may start to droop or drop off. Leaf drop in a transplanted yucca is normal and probably isn't anything to worry about. You can help the plant become established faster by transplanting it in the spring so the roots have time to grow before the weather gets cold. If you've divided a yucca by cutting a large rhizome, place the cut plant in the shade with a cover over it for up to a week to allow the cut edge to heal before putting it in the soil.

How tall does a yucca plant grow?

Yucca is a hardy, easy-to-grow succulent that thrives in hot, dry climates. They can grow up to 30 feet high and 15 feet across. The strong, spiky leaves make the yucca an attractive landscaping plant that requires little maintenance. Yucca are also kept indoors in pots.

Why do yuccas grow back?

This is because yuccas grow from offsets, which are baby plants that sprout from a shallow root called a rhizome. When you remove the plant, make sure that no offsets or pieces of rhizome remain in the soil.

Why are my yucca leaves yellowing?

Damage to Leaves. A yucca that's been growing for a long time in one location becomes acclimated to the sun beating down more on one side of the plant. Transplanting a yucca might cause yellowing of some leaves.

Why is my yucca rotting?

Stalk Is Rotting. If the center stalk of a yucca begins to rot, the cause is usually too much water. This can happen if you've transplanted the yucca to a place that's too wet for it, or somewhere that doesn't have good drainage. It can also happen as a result of over-watering.

Can you transplant yuccas?

Too Hard to Transplant. Yuccas are not easy to transplant because of their size and shape, sharp leaves and tough roots. For a plant larger than 2 feet in diameter, you will probably need a helper to move the plant around, and you should wear strong gloves and a long-sleeved shirt made of a durable material. Have your helper hold the leaves up out ...

Can you throw away yuccas?

You can throw these away or try to grow them in pots. A yucca that's been growing for a long time in one location becomes acclimated to the sun beating down more on one side of the plant. Sometimes when you move a yucca in the garden, new plants will return in the old spot.

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