Blog – Page 8 – We Grow Rosemary

What you need when transplanting rosemary depends on the size of the plant and whether you are transplanting it into the ground or into another pot. I like to keep it as simple as possible when I transplant my own rosemary, so I won't include a bunch of unnecessary items on this list. Instead, I include the items that are crucial and a few that can be helpful, depending on if you transplant small or large plants and if they go in the ground or into another pot. When transplanting rosemary, you need gardening gloves, water, and well-draining soil. If you transplant into the ground, you also need a hand trowel or a shovel, depending on the size of the plant. If you transplant into a pot, you need a pot at least 1-2 inches larger than the plant's current pot. I have transplanted rosemary lots of times both into the ground and into other pots over the years, so I know exactly what you need depending on your situation. That's what I want to teach you, so you don't have to spend time getting tools and supplies you end up not using. Cactus Soil Mix for Your Rosemary to Thrive Regardless of the size of your rosemary and where you want to plant it, you need the right type of soil when you transplant it to make sure it has the best prerequisites to thrive. The best soil for rosemary is a cactus mix or similar consisting of mainly inorganic material such as sand, gravel, and perlite. In addition to providing the plant with the nutrients it needs, this soil type also drains well which is crucial for preventing root damage and other moisture-related problems. It is crucial that you don't use the same nutrient-rich potting soil you use for your basil, parsley, tomatoes, and many other garden plants. It will lead to fertilizer shock which causes the tips of the leaves to become scorched. Gardening Gloves to Protect Your Hands While not having gardening gloves won't prevent you from transplanting rosemary, I would say it is an essential item for tasks like this. Especially with plants like rosemary that can have somewhat sharp and pointy parts. I personally prefer some relatively thin and tight gloves like the ones I am wearing in the photo above. Sure, you can get some that protect better, but these are more than sufficient for working with rosemary. Water to Help the Roots Get Used to the New Spot A common mistake people make is that they forget to water their rosemary after transplanting it. This can be the determining factor for whether your plant survives the transition or not. I have written another article where I cover other mistakes people make when transplanting rosemary, so check it out for some tips on how to avoid them. Watering right after moving your rosemary helps prevent the roots from drying out and also helps the plant get used to the new spot faster. I have another article where I go into more detail about how you should water rosemary after transplanting and why it is so important. Terra Cotta Pot That Is Larger Than the Current One (Situational) If you want to transplant your rosemary into the ground, you don't need this one. If, on the other hand, you are planning on transplanting it into another pot (also called repotting) you, of course, need a pot. You don't need just any pot, though, because it will have a significant impact on how well your plant will do. You need to keep three things in mind when you choose a pot for your rosemary. Size Material Drainage holes The size of the pot determines how much room the roots have to grow, which directly affects how fast your rosemary grows and how big it gets. When you transplant rosemary, you need a pot that is at least 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) wider and taller than the plant's current pot. A 12-inch (30 cm) pot usually provides sufficient space for the plant to thrive, although larger pots can allow for even more growth. Instead of transplanting into a pot that is only slightly larger than the current one, I usually just go straight to a 12-inch pot so I don't have to do it again for a while. Lazy? Perhaps, but it works and it also relieves the plant of the stress associated with moving it too often. The material the pot is made of also plays a significant role. Plastic is cheap but also prevents moisture from leaving the pot in other ways than through drainage holes. Terra cotta is my favorite material for pots and it works especially well for rosemary since it is crucial that the roots don't stay in soggy soil. Terra cotta allows moisture to seep out through the walls of the pot in addition to through a drainage hole, which all pots for rosemary should also have. Hand Trowel to Dig Hole for a Small Plant (Situational) If you are transplanting your rosemary into another pot, you don't necessarily need a hand trowel, although it can be helpful. Hand trowels are mostly useful when transplanting a smaller rosemary into the ground as you need to dig a hole for it. For larger plants, you can save time by using a shovel. I find it easier to just use my hands (with some gardening gloves of course) to fill the pot with soil when I repot rosemary, but some people prefer to use hand trowels for that. I mostly use them for digging holes for seedlings and small plants that I want to transplant into the ground. You can get some quite fancy hand trowels but to be honest, I like my simple ones from the photo above. They were inexpensive and have gotten the job done for a few years at this point, so there is absolutely no need to overspend. Shovel to Dig Hole for Larger Plants (Situational) For larger rosemary plants that you want to put into the ground or move from one spot in the ground to another, you can save a lot of time by using a shovel or a spade instead of a hand trowel. If that's what you're doing, I recommend reading my guide on how to move established rosemary plants. Unless you are transplanting a large plant into the ground or moving it from one spot in the ground to another, a shovel is not needed. Optional: Newspapers or Similar to Avoid a Mess I have made a mess plenty of times to know that it is a good idea to either repot plants outside or to put out newspapers or similar before you start. Not only do you avoid making a mess but you also protect the floor from damage which can be expensive to fix. If you have the option to go outside and do it, that is definitely easier in my opinion. Easy Step-By-Step Guide for Transplanting Rosemary Now that you know everything about the supplies you need for transplanting rosemary, it is time to get started. I have done my best to write the guides you need no matter what you want. That's why I have a guide on how to put rosemary in the ground and another one for repotting rosemary.