For success in transplanting native plants, it is important to understand the environment in which they are growing naturally. Duplicating this environment on the new planting site is the key to the plant's survival. Some environmental factors to consider include light, soil moisture, and soil acidity. Most of our native soils are slightly acid, so you may have to adjust the soil pH in the new location. This can be determined by having the soil tested by your local Extension Office well in advance of anticipated transplanting.
Soil moisture can vary within the distance of a few feet.
Plants growing naturally on a slope probably require good drainage, while those growing in bogs require wet conditions. Similarly, if the soil is sandy, the plant will transplant best into sandy soil. A plant growing on the edge of the woods generally requires more light than one in a thick forest. These environmental conditions must be similar at the new location. Since roots form at the cut edge, the root ball that is dug for transplanting must be about 4 to 6 inches outside the pruning cut to get the maximum number of new roots.