Help with shrub

my next door neighbour has just told me she plans on killing this shrub I would love to move it to my garden would it be worth it or is to late as it's starting to produce leaves.

 

No idea what it is from pic, nothing to lose by trying, dig around it at a good distance trying not to sever too many roots, plant it in a similar sized hole to the one dug from, if it is starting to produce new growth I would also cut it back above some new growth to reduce height, if possible stake it to reduce root rock.

 

If you follow Pam's (sage) advice, I would also add: keep it watered throughout the first year! Not sodden, but moist.

 

Forgot to say sorry it's a lilac shrub.

 

Dig the planting hole first so the plant is out of the ground for the least time possible.

 

your asset and your neighbors stupidity .

 

You don't say where abouts you live. If you are in the south of Englnd where Spring will be arriving any minute now I'd do exactly what Pamdish recommends and I would prune the shrub quite hard, taking off about a 1/3 off the branch lengths to minimise the amount of moisture the shrub will loose. Ok you will be pruning off this years flowers but I'd still sacrifice those for the good of the shrub.
During dry periods once moved try and water the shrub thoroughly and spray the foliage as well. With luck the shrub should be fine if you can save as much root as possible.