There’s Really No Time That Camellias Can’t Be Planted

Q: I understand that the optimal time of year to plant camellias in Georgia is the fall. With that said, my wife and I perform an act of service for families who have a child that dies. We give the bereaved families a camellia bush to plant in their yard in memory of their loved one. We give this gift at various times of the year. Do you have any advice for planting a camellia at times other than the optimal time? 

A: There is really no time that camellias can’t be planted except when the ground is frozen, and that rarely happens. Experts agree that hydrangeas should not be transplanted in summer yet I transplanted 20 hydrangeas in boiling July heat, and I didn’t lose any of them.

The key is not to let them dry out. You should dig a wide hole — four times the size of the root ball. Then carefully unwind the root(s) around the root ball and spread them in your wide hole. Carefully backfill with the soil you remove. There is no need to add amendments as long as the soil you put in is thoroughly broken apart.

After the plant is in place, be sure to mulch with a two-inch layer of mini bark chips. When you water, check to make sure it trickles into the whole root area, not just at the stem of the plant. If you are attentive to watering, I doubt a leaf will fall.