Tree planting / sapling moving

[N7HEVN]

Anyone have experience with planting new trees from small saplings (like 1 foot tall), or digging up and relocating saplings (taller than 1 foot, to upward of 4-5 feet)?

I have some of these that I want to relocate, and would appreciate any feedback that you all may have tried and succeeded, or failed at attempts.

Time of year to do it / not do it, how much other extra care was taken after re-planting, etc.

For the taller saplings, would you use an excavator to dig them up, and would it be safe / unsafe to the root system?

My location dilemma is rocks. Lots and lots of rocks in eastern Oklahoma!... So, I'm not manually digging these things up with a shovel, it would just be a terrible time...

Thanks!

 

[procraftmike]

My best success rates on transplanting trees is early spring, while the trees are still dormant. Take as big of a root ball as you can and try to keep it intact around the roots.

Make the new hole slightly larger than the root ball, add loose soil around the root ball to fill in the voids.

 

[dalola]

Anyone have experience with planting new trees from small saplings (like 1 foot tall), or digging up and relocating saplings (taller than 1 foot, to upward of 4-5 feet)?

I have some of these that I want to relocate, and would appreciate any feedback that you all may have tried and succeeded, or failed at attempts.

Time of year to do it / not do it, how much other extra care was taken after re-planting, etc.

For the taller saplings, would you use an excavator to dig them up, and would it be safe / unsafe to the root system?

My location dilemma is rocks. Lots and lots of rocks in eastern Oklahoma!... So, I'm not manually digging these things up with a shovel, it would just be a terrible time...

Thanks!

I prefer late fall, Oct until ground freezes. If you're careful, you can transfer bare root up to 3-4 feet. Support with stakes until rooted back in, and water well. I've always had more success with smaller trees, 4 feet and under, as the roots really get established prior to weather stress due to tree size. The 3 year rule also generally applies....sleep, creep, leap; as relating to initial growth patterns. Rocks are an issue for sure, may need to add soil to transplant areas, and digging is a *itch no matter. Good luck!

 

[N7HEVN]

Thanks guys, appreciate the input

 

[dirtydeed]

any chance you can locate/rent a skid steer with a tree spade?

Not sure how they'd do in very rocky soil, but, they work great here. Planted many a tree when I had my landscaping business. They all came directly from the growers...all using skid steer mounted tree spades.

Most planted spring or fall. Spring, just after buds, flowers. Fall, we tried mostly after first frost.

 

[skeets]

One more thing dig the hole at least 2 times what you think you are going to need, and if you are using fertilizer it dont toss it on or right close to the roots, it will burn them. And water very deeply if you do it in the late fall odds are the tree will go dormant and wont need much water. What kinds of trees are you planting?