Wisteria is a popular garden plant due to its perfectly colored lilac pendent flowers.

A lot of gardeners are fond of planting Wisteria as a decoration to their fences, trellis, and arbor even though it has the possibility to outgrow everything quite substantially. 

Wisteria is a fast and aggressive growing vine. If not properly planted, it may be difficult to contain.

Meaning it can uncontrollably spread onto walls or nearby structures and has the potential of killing neighboring plants. 

This is why some Wisteria owners are attempting to transplant their Wisteria to a more suitable spot in the garden.

However, transplanting Wisteria is not easy, and when to transplant Wisteria is important. 

When to transplant Wisteria?

Transplant Wisteria in winter and early spring when it is in dormancy. This is the stage when a plant is alive, but not actively growing.

When and where is the best time to Transplant Wisteria?

You can transplant Wisteria any month.

However, the best time to transplant Wisteria according to experts is in early spring which is the end of March to mid-April, or in late wintertime.

Also, the transplanting procedure might be more difficult than the planting stage.

You have to establish a new location for your Wisteria to ensure proper growth and blooming.

Not all Wisteria owners are successful in transplanting their Wisteria. Some Wisteria die and some take several years before returning to their normal phase.

Prepare the Planting Hole

Before moving your Wisteria, ensure its planting location is already prepared. This will ensure that the transplanting procedure won’t be too stressful for your Wisteria.

Keep in mind that the less stress your Wisteria has, the more time it has to take off and grow in its new location. The keys to a good planting hole are.

• The planting area must receive at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. 
• The hole should measure 2 to 3 feet in width and should be 2 to 3 feet deep. 
• Scrape the edge and bottom of the hole/s using your shovel or spade. 
• The hole must be filled with water and drained out before transplanting the Wisteria vine. 
• The soil must be amended with 3 to 4 inches of compost from the soil that is removed from the hole. 
• Only use well-rotted compost to make sure that the soil is provided with sufficient nutrients for Wisteria growth.

It’s time to dig out the shoot

• Choose a healthy shoot with 1 to 2 feet in height. 
• Place the edge of your shovel or spade a foot away from the Wisteria’s rootball. And from there, gently push down the spade or shovel all the way around the plant. 
• Carefully pry the Wisteria rootball out of its ground, but be gentle enough not to break it. 

Finally, it’s time to transplant the Wisteria

If there is a big distance between the current location and the new site, wrap the rootball first in a tarp.

This will help to keep the soil around the rootball intact. 

Ensure that the depth of the new location’s planting hole matches the height of the root ball. 

Insert the rootball into the planting hole. 

Assure that the top of the root ball is leveled with the soil. 

Fill in the hole again with the soil and tamp with your hands to get rid of air pockets. 

Always make sure to provide sufficient water. Moistened soil is essential for your Wisteria to grow in the new spot.

What is Wisteria plant dormancy?

Dormancy is the stage where a plants slows down down and rest. The dormancy period protects the Wisteria from harsh weather conditions such as freezing winter temperature and extreme summer drought. 

Therefore a Wisteria will be triggered to enter its dormant phase when there is less light and colder temperatures as well as severe heat and drought.

Once favorable weather conditions arrive, the dormant period ends.

How to know if the Wisteria is in its dormancy and not dying?

Most Wisteria owners are confused if their Wisteria is just sleeping or already dead. To know if the Wisteria is in its dormant stage, check its stem. If the stem bends easily, then it’s alive. But if the stem snaps easily, it’s a sign of Wisteria dying. 

Also, you may want to scrape a little piece of its bark. If you see a green-colored bark, then it’s healthy. But if you see brownish-dry bark, your Wisteria might probably be dead. 

How long does it take before a Wisteria recovers from transplanting?

Let’s say you have done all the necessary procedures for transplanting, the recovery process and new growth to appear will most likely take a couple of weeks.

Will Wisteria resume blooming after transplanting?

Do not worry if you don’t see your Wisteria blooming for a while. The transplanting procedure may delay blooms. Usually, you will not see your Wisteria bloom for the first season and ti may or may not the next season. It’s not unusual for a plant that has been transplanted to take a couple of years before it starts blooming again.

Are all Wisteria invasive? 

Not all Wisteria types are invasive. Kentucky Wisteria and American Wisteria are tamer versions.