Moving a Camellia

tomsolomon

Hi can anybody give some advice on when to move and what to do to prevent frost damage?
I don't want to dig it up now and risk killing it if we have a frost. It's being moved near a conifer, and will be surrounded on two side by a fence, so there will be some protection from the elements.
From what I can gather they are a little tempremental....

Janey3

Hello Tom. Personally I wouldn't move it now, as it's buds should now be formed. Best time to move is after it has bloomed in late spring.
Janey

goldfinch68

Yes, don't move it now, it will be flowering soon, so wait until the blooms fade then move it. Camellias should be positioned so that they don't get the morning sun on them (so not east-facing). The reason for this is that because they flower late Feb-late March time there is often frost on the buds and the sun will scorch them turning them brown and they won't flower. When you do move it, make sure that you back fill the planting hole with plenty of ericaceous compost as camellias are acid loving plants and this will keep it healthy and prevent the leaves going a sickly yellow colour, which is why people sometimes think camellias are fussy.

tomsolomon

Thanks both....
Luckily, its new home is going to be in the east corner of a south east facing garden, with a slow growing conifer providing the shade it should need from the morning sun. I am also hoping the acid soil around the tree will provide the ideal conditions for the plant to prosper.
Not sure if it will bloom this year mind. It's a rescued plant that was pot bound then planted out. I took it up in the summer of last year, from someone who was clearing their garden. It was a bit, touch and go as to weather the plant would survive, but it has good, strong, dark green foliage on now.
I have yet to check the state of the root ball. The ground is very good here, which should have given the plant a chance to spread its roots a little.