Moving a healthy, mature tree from one place to another is far trickier and more prone to risk than transplanting a sapling or a young tree. Part of it is investment – meaning that there’s less risk moving a very young tree because it’s less expensive to replace if something goes wrong (and your emotional investment in the tree is probably less, as well. But older trees have different physical needs, too, and those complicate the process of transplanting. But these can be overcome with the right planning. So, whether you need to move a tree for its health, or for other practical reasons, we can help you move your tree without losing it.
Consult a Professional
The truth is, this isn’t an easy job, and it’s not one that everyone wants to tackle on their own (for good reason). The amount of earth that needs to be moved with a mature tree can be massive, and that requires digging two gigantic holes – one where the tree is being moved from, and the other where the tree is being moved to. This job is not for every DIY-er. It might be time to call in a trusted, local tree service company (in Cincinnati, you can call us here at Tree Images). There’s no shame (and a lot of peace of mind) in passing this job off to a pro.
But if you’re determined to take this on on your own … we’ve got some tips that can help.
Water, Water, Everywhere
When you plant or move a young tree, you likely take the entire root ball along with it. But because older trees have massive root systems, and it’s often impossible to move them entirely, there is, by necessity, a temporary disruption to your tree’s ability to hydrate itself following the relocation. So, it’s essential to have it as well-watered as possible prior to beginning the transplanting. Water the tree deeply and thoroughly in the days and weeks leading up to digging it up, so that it can survive the disruption more easily.
Dig a Really Big Hole (Actually, Dig Two)
As we mentioned above, you need to take as much of the root system with the tree when you move it, and that means digging a really big hole in the spot the tree starts out in, and an even bigger hole in the spot the tree is being moved to. Why does the new hole need to be even bigger? Because you’ll want to be able to settle your tree into the hole gently, without forcing it (and thus causing even more potential damage to the root system). In general, you’ll want the hole you dig when you remove your tree to be about one foot in diameter for each inch of tree trunk, plus almost as deep as it is across. Then, dig the hole where the tree is going to wind up just a little bit deeper and wider than that.
Choose Your Moment
You’ll be most successful in transplanting your tree if you move it when the tree is dormant – meaning after the leaves have fallen in the autumn and before it begins to bud in the spring. It’s obviously impractical to move a tree in the dead of winter, when the ground is frozen, but if you can move it in the late fall/early winter, after your tree has begun to rest for the winter but before the ground is frozen, that will be best. This gives your tree the most time possible to adjust before it has to begin the hard work of creating new growth in the springtime.
With care and planning, you can safely and successfully transplant your older tree from one spot in your yard to another. But if it all seems a bit intimidating, it might be best to give us a call here at Tree Images – we have years of experience relocating mature trees safely.
