Trees are important for our landscape and the overall aesthetic of our yards. But if a tree is not planted in the appropriate spot, this can be a problem and tree transplanting might be necessary. This can give you the freedom to redesign your yard and help your tree thrive. The younger and smaller a tree is, the easier it is to transplant. But what about large, mature trees? Our team at Five Star Tree Services want to go over some factors when transplanting large trees.
Transplanting a Tree Safely
Not only can transplanting a tree help you and your yard, but it can also help the tree thrive when placed in a better, more advantageous spot.
Tree Transplant Timing
There are good and bad times to try and transplant a tree. This is not something you can decide to do on a whim and execute it right away. It takes careful and precise planning in order to successfully transplant a tree and have it survive, particularly fully grown ones. You should plan to move your tree either in the fall or spring, when it is dormant.
During the three seasons a tree is “awake” (spring, summer, fall) the roots are providing water to the entire tree in order to keep it alive. If you attempt to dig up a tree during this time, you are essentially cutting off its water supply when it needs it the most. This will cause the tree to go into shock and die. Which is why you need to wait for the tree to become dormant and not rely on a constant source of water from the roots to sustain its leaves. Transplanting when the tree is “asleep” allows the tree to begin reestablishing its roots in the spring when it “wakes up”.
Different trees have a better chance of surviving transplantation during certain time frames.
-pine trees should be transplanted during early fall
-oak trees should be transplanted in early spring, more specifically sometime during February or March
-maple trees should be transplanted in late fall
-fruit trees should be transplanted in early spring
Trying to attempt to transplant a tree during the middle of winter is not advisable and virtually impossible anyway. You can severely damage the roots due to the frozen ground. Not to mention digging in frozen soil is all but impossible and a bigger hassle than necessary. Just wait for spring if you make the decision to move a tree during winter. It will make your life a lot easier and the trees too.
Location Choices
When trying to figure out where to move your tree to, you need to keep in mind the species of your tree and what it requires to thrive. Consider the size of the tree (if not fully grown) , keep it away from your house, power lines, and underground utilities, how much sun or shade it needs, and what soil conditions it requires and drainage needs.
Pruning the Roots
Before you start digging up your tree, you need to understand how to properly prune roots. The start of your tree transplanting project begins 6 months before you actually move the tree. You need to start trimming the roots a little at a time, up until the day you move it. When you prune roots, you initiate root growth in the root ball area near the tree. Never prune deciduous tree roots until they have become dormant.
Since this is such a delicate operation to be performing, we highly recommend consulting with a professional arborist, if not enlisting them for the entire project. An arborist can assist with figuring out the size of the root ball. Next, you will need to dig a trench around the base of the tree and determine its size by the size of the root ball and extending root system. To prevent damage to low branches, secure them. Below the trench, get a sharp-edged spade and cut through the roots. Once you’re done, dig back the soil in the trench and water the area. You can then untie the secured branches after the hole has been dug.
Hole Space
For your tree’s new location, you need to measure the diameter of the trunk 12 inches from the ground. For instance, if your tree measures 8 inches or more, you can assume the root ball is about 10-12 inches wide for every inch of the trunk diameter. If the base of a tree is 12 inches, you will need to dig a hole roughly 10-12 feet wide in order to transplant enough of the root system to allow the tree to survive and grow.
Storing Your Tree Before Transplant
Sometimes, you won’t be able to immediately transplant your tree right after removal. In this case, you need to box the root ball, store it somewhere safe, and water it in order to keep it alive and protect it from damage. Surprising as it might be, it’s actually beneficial to store your tree for 6 months or longer as opposed to removing it and only storing it for a couple weeks or months before replanting it. During removal of a large and mature tree, it is going to lose a significant amount of its roots. Making it harder to regenerate after it has been transplanted. So, when you store it for longer periods, it can take this time to develop and regrow new feeder roots that will help it when replanted.
Transplant Your Tree
Now that you have been waiting for the long 6 months, it’s time to finally transplant your tree! Once you have prepared and dug the appropriately sized hole for your tree’s new location, you need to soak the root ball. Carefully remove the soil from the root ball and then wrap the ball with untreated natural burlap. This will help prevent restricted growth and rot. To keep the root ball intact, sew the burlap together with a large upholstery needle and use natural twine to stitch the burlap. Be very careful when you are moving the tree and make sure to prevent the roots from breaking and the ball stays intact. Otherwise, the tree can die. Once you get the tree into the new hole, use topsoil to fill in around the roots. Then add 3-4 inches of mulch on top but keep it away from directly touching the trunk. Throughout the next growing season, remember to regularly water it.
Transplanting Aftercare
It is going to be crucial to stake your tree after you have transplanted it, especially for large trees as they have a tendency to be top heavy and can easily fall over without their roots being able to hold them down. Get 3-5 stakes and surround your tree. To prevent cutting your tree, make sure the line or rope doesn’t touch the tree. You can use a garden hose as a barrier and thread the rope through it. Securely fasten the steaks into the ground and prepare to have them there for at least a year. Do not fertilize your tree until after a year as this can promote unwanted growth.
Post Transplant Expectations
Prepare yourself that your tree isn’t going to look the same as it did before the transplant. You can have some branch death due to the shock. It might take a few months or even years to recover and look normal after being transplanted. Don’t be surprised if your tree doesn’t produce any new visible growth until it has reestablished itself in the new location.
How Five Star Tree Services Can Help
It is a very delicate and precise procedure to transplant a large tree. Our team at Five Star tree Services has experience transplanting trees of all various shapes, sizes, and species. If you want the best chance for your tree to survive, our team can help you with tree transplanting in Richmond Hill! We can also provide you with detailed aftercare instructions to help ensure the survival of your tree! Give us a call today at (416) 990-3355!