Moving a large plant Some plants quickly outgrow their allotted space. This is usually a result of siting plants too close together to fill out borders.
Shrubs are one of the main culprits.
You can keep a spreading shrub within bounds by severe pruning, but this only provides a short-term solution and may adversely affect flowering. It's best to move the shrub instead of leaving it to become misshapen in its present position. Moving an established shrub is best done in autumn or early spring. You will need a spade, a sheet of hessian or polythene and some muscle power. 1 Make a circular trench around the shrub, here a Piptanthus nepalensis .