Can I transplant “shoots” from my quince bush to a family member’s garden in the spring or is it better to so in the fall? Would it be better to order one from a nursery? Now or in the fall?
Many thanks.
Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners with your question about transplanting shoots from your quince shrub.
I had to do a bit of research on this fascinating topic. You can find several good videos on how to dig up the shoots that grow from shrub suckers. Be sure to choose those that have a significant healthy root attached. Dig at least a few inches radius from the shoot to get as much root as possible. The root is the hardest working part of a plant, so inspect it carefully. Pot each one in a separate container using fresh soil and water well. I would give them a couple of weeks to recover before transplanting into another garden, just to be sure they have survived the shock. Spring and fall are ideal times for transplanting. I would suggest you try your own propagation; if it doesn’t work out, then go to the nursery. It’s always great to learn something new.
If you are really interested in learning more about growing new plants, two excellent sources I absolutely love are Ken Druse’s Making More Plants: The Science, Art, and Joy of Propagation (Clarkson Potter, 2000) and Alan Toogood’s Plant Propagation (Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2004).
To propagate flowering quince by cuttings, take 6- to 8-inch hardwood cuttings (from last year’s growth). Remove the lower leaves, then dip the cuttings in water and rooting hormone. Plant your cuttings in potting soil or special soil mix.
Here is a link to an article on our website about all types of ornamental flowering shrubs:
I hope you find all this useful.