What should you do if you have a healthy tree in your yard, but it isn’t working out well where it is? You could need to transplant a tree for a variety of valid reasons. Your yard may have a tree that is in the wrong place. It may be in danger of getting in the way of power lines, for example, or it could be growing too close to structures or roadways. It could be interfering with the growth of other plants, or even just be blocking a view to something you either like or need to be able to see from your window. It is tricky to successfully transplant a tree, and there are many ways that even a healthy tree could not survive the move. But is it possible?
You may be able to transplant your own tree if the tree is small – with a main stem no wider than three inches in diameter. For a larger tree, you would definitely need a Cincinnati tree service to handle it for you.
But, if your tree is small and healthy, and you are daring, you can take the chance to uproot it and replant it yourself.
Preparing the Roots
You will want to prune the roots of the tree, and then let the tree recover from this root-pruning for a full season before trying to uproot it. The three or four months that the tree rests will help it sustain the trauma of having its root ball pulled completely out of the ground. While the tree is resting, be sure that it is getting plenty of water, and that the roots are protected.
Protect the Root Ball
You need to prepare the tree’s roots before you try to uproot it. After digging out the soil around the tree’s roots, you want to hold this root ball steady with natural burlap, and tie it with twine. Once the root ball is protected, you want to place something solid underneath it. This could be, say, the base of a wheelbarrow or a dolly so that you can roll the tree to its new home. Or it could be a platform, if you want to try sliding it on the platform. It is absolutely essential, though, that you need to keep the root ball intact, and disrupt it as little as possible, so that your tree has the best chance of surviving in its new location.
Prepare the New Spot
When preparing the new place for your tree, you will want to dig a hole to about the same depth as the place the tree is being removed from, but about three times as wide so that the roots won’t be squished or damaged as it acclimates to its new place in your yard.
Replant Your Tree
Move the tree to its new spot, and replace the soil around the roots gradually, tamping it down as you go. The idea is to make sure you fill in the soil thoroughly, but also that you don’t overly compact it. Then, water the new spot very well to help your tree adjust to its new place.
Transplanting a tree can be risky, but it’s a better option than cutting down a perfectly healthy tree just because it’s not in a good spot. If you’re at all uncertain, or if the task of transplanting feels overly daunting, don’t hesitate to call in the professionals for extra help.
