Question: I have a 5-acre parcel of land in the Laurel Highlands of Somerset County. It is mostly level with a slight slope to the far corner. It receives direct sun most of the day from sun-up to approximately 5 or 6 p.m.

I have about 15 to 20 native mountain laurels that are growing throughout the property. I would like to move and transplant some of them to more desirable locations. When is the best time to transplant these evergreens? Are there any special considerations to take into account when transplanting?

Any information or help about mountain laurel would be appreciated.

Answer: Mountain laurel, aka Kalmia latifolia, is a wonderful, flowering, broad-leafed evergreen. It is native to the eastern United States from Maine to Florida and west to Indiana. This understory shrub has been Pennsylvania's state flower since the 1930s.

At maturity, most types of mountain laurel reach between 6 and 20 feet in height, though there have been some cultivars bred to be substantially smaller in size, even without pruning.

There are several dozen named cultivars of mountain laurel in the nursery trade.

The cup-shaped flowers of the straight species of mountain laurel range from light pink to white, but some newer cultivars bear flowers that are burgundy and red as well. Some even have brilliant red new growth on the shoot tips. Both the buds and open flowers are covered with a sticky substance and fine hairs, and they are a favorite of many species of pollinators. The evergreen leaves are oblong, dark and shiny, looking much like a smaller version of rhododendron leaves.

This spring to early-summer blooming shrub makes a great landscape plant, if it's planted in conditions that mimic its preferred native growth sites. Mountain laurels prefer well-drained, acidic soils with a pH ranging from 4.5 to 5.5. Because of this, it's often necessary to use a granular fertilizer formulated specifically for evergreens every few years to keep the soil pH in the preferred range.

Mountain laurels are, by nature, an understory tree, and as such, they much prefer to be located in partial shade, especially in the afternoon. Planting mountain laurels in a highly exposed location, where they're subject to either drying winter winds or bright summer sun, is a big no-no. The plants will not thrive. Consider this when choosing a new home for the plants.

As with most evergreens, mountain laurels prefer to be transplanted in the fall. Anytime from late August through late October is fine. When relocating the plants, excavate as large of a root ball as you can handle, and try to keep the soil intact around the roots until the plant is settled into the new planting hole. Be sure to keep the plants well watered for the first year after transplanting, until new roots can be established, and mulch the root zone with a ring of shredded hardwood mulch or pine needles.

Another problem to consider when transplanting your laurels is their tendency to be a favorite of deer. Even though all parts of mountain laurel are toxic, deer often nibble off leaves and flower buds in winter, when other food is scarce. If your garden is frequented by deer, be sure to protect the plants with a spray deterrent or fencing from fall until late spring.

Like azaleas and rhododendrons, mountain laurels bloom on old wood, meaning the flower buds are developed on last year's growth. Any pruning should be done immediately after the flowers fade; otherwise, you risk cutting off the developing flower buds.

Horticulturist Jessica Walliser co-hosts “The Organic Gardeners” at 7 a.m. Sundays on KDKA Radio. She is the author of several gardening books, including “Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control” and “Good Bug, Bad Bug.” Her website is www.jessicawalliser.com.

Send your gardening or landscaping questions to tribliving@tribweb.com or The Good Earth, 503 Martindale St., 3rd Floor, D.L. Clark Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

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