Transplant Rosemary – Very Easy

Rosemary (botanically Rosmarinus officinalis) can reach a considerable size: In its Mediterranean homeland, growth heights of around two meters are not uncommon. For this reason, the vigorous – but nevertheless quite slow-growing – shrub is often used for planting hedges. In our climate, rosemary is more likely to reach a height of about one meter, but due to its continuous growth, it needs to be repotted regularly.

Transplanting in the garden

Transplanting a rosemary planted out in the garden can be necessary for various reasons, be it because the shrub is too big, the location is not ideal, or for design reasons. In principle, it is possible to implement rosemary, but you should think carefully about this step beforehand. Rosemary is quite capricious and unpredictable, and you never know how your bush will react. In the worst case, he simply dies. If you still want to take a chance, try this way:

• First things first: Prune the rosemary vigorously, removing any diseased and wilted parts.
• Take a pitchfork or spade fork.
• Use this tool to carefully dig up the rosemary.
• Be careful not to damage the roots as much as possible.
• Lift out the plant.
• Now dig as deep a hole as possible at the designated spot.
• If necessary, mix your own herbal soil.
• Place the rosemary in the planting hole and shovel in the soil.
• Make sure there are no cavities.
• Finally, press the rosemary well and water it.
• Now you can cover the bed with pebbles or gravel.

Instead of replanting the plant in the garden, you can of course put it in a pot instead.

Report rosemary

Rosemary should be transplanted to a larger planter about every two years. The new pot is the optimal size when it is about a third larger than the plant.

• Mix the plant substrate.
• Fill the new pot with a layer of pebbles or expanded clay (€19.00 at Amazon*) and then a layer of soil.
• Pick up the old pot and tap it all over.
• This should loosen the soil from the walls of the pot.
• Now take the upper surface in your hand and hold the pot upside down.
• Gently pull out the plant.
• Check the roots for damage and signs of rot.
• If necessary, cut them away.
• Now place the plant in the new pot and fill it with the substrate.
• No cavities are allowed here either.
• Press the rosemary well and water it.

Tips and tricks

When repotting, pay more attention to brown plant parts, white spots, cobwebs, or food marks – these are signs of a pest infestation.