The host of southern Manitoba's Lawn and Garden Journal is offering his top three tips to transplanting annuals this spring.

At the height of the list, hydration.

Duayne Friesen says the plants need to be watered before they are moved to a more permanent location, adding it's quite difficult to over-water when planting.

"If your timing works out, it's very important and it really increases your success rate of transplanting anything if what you're going to be is watered an hour or two before you actually want to use it, so that the root ball wet and that the roots have had time to draw that water up into the plant."

Next, Friesen says to make sure the weather is conducive to planting.

"Night temperatures look like they're going to be staying above ten degrees for the rest of the week carrying us into June, so I think that's fairly reliable as far as weather can be."

And finally Friesen says soil preparation is another crucial step when transplanting.

"Make sure your soil is ready to go, that it's been loosened, that the roots are going to be able to easily develop into the soil around it. A little bit of transplant fertilizer at the time of planting is also a good idea."