Dear Sven,

I have two healthy Virginia creepers which are currently growing up a willow panel fence in containers. I wish to move them to their permanent home - newly-built raised beds - to become the permanent ornamentals I bought them to be, providing screen coverage for a trellis partition. When and how should I carry this out? I think I'm supposed to wait until the leaves fall. And what about pruning - should I prune the plants after I've moved them?

Thanks,
markash62

Our Gardens Expert replies:

Dear Markash,

Virginia creeper or Parthenocissus quinquefolia is a really vigorous climber that needs plenty of room to be fully appreciated. It is a self-attaching climber that is grown mainly for its fantastic foliage, large bold hand-like green leaves that turn a fantastic red colour in autumn. It grows best in a light free-draining soil in dappled shade and if they are happy will grow rampant. I had one on the front of my old cottage in Suffolk and it looked fantastic, even if it was a bit of a handful!

I would move the plants in late winter so that when they kick into growth in the spring they are in their new home. Seeing as your plants are in pots they should transplant pretty easily - just remove them from the pots and tease the roots out a little and replant. Plants sometimes go into shock when you move them so I would give them a really good watering the day before you plant them and once planted cut it all back by about half so that in the first year it will concentrate on developing good roots to help it along. I know this sounds drastic but they are as tough as old boots and this will help them on long term.

Best of luck!

Sven