Knowing how to transplant a tree is important because it allows you to take your favorite tree when you move to a new house or invest in landscaping projects without compromising the overall health of your trees.
Relocating small trees, or any tree, in general, is a simple task. As long as you have the right equipment and knowledge of what to do, you can relocate trees in a matter of hours!
To help you get started, follow these steps to transplant a tree successfully:
Step 1: Time the Move Properly
You need to determine the best time to transplant trees to ensure that they remain healthy in their new location. Generally, you should transplant your trees in the spring because they have a full season to adapt to their new climate.
Conversely, you should never transplant trees during the fall because this won’t give your trees enough time to adjust before winter arrives. This can cause stress to your trees, resulting in leaf discoloration, early leaf drop, and splits or cracks in your tree.
Step 2: Gather Essential Tools
Your efforts to transplant trees will only become a success if you have the right tools. Without the right tools, transplanting trees can become a time-consuming and hazardous chore.
These tools are essential when transplanting trees:
- Loppers
- Mulch
- Pointed shovel
- Tarp
- Tree dolly
- Watering hose
Step 3: Prune the Roots but Make Sure To Water Them First
Before transplanting any tree, prepare it by pruning its roots several months before. For example, if you’re planning to transplant trees in March, start pruning their roots as early as January. This enables the growth of new feeder roots, allowing your trees to absorb more nutrients and water.
To make it easier for you to prune your trees, water them well a day before. Watering will ensure that the soil sticks to the roots and the soil is moist, so you can easily dig into it. Focus on watering the trees’ root ball and applying water slowly using a hose set to a low flow or through a drip system.
Step 4: Carefully Select a New Location
Transplanting your trees more than once will make it challenging for them to adapt to their new environment and thrive, which is why you should be careful in selecting a new location. Generally, you should consider the type of tree you’re about to transplant, its size, and the growing environment when picking a location.
As a general rule of thumb, select a location far from your home. This will ensure that you don’t have to transplant your trees again in the future once they start to grow. The location should also be far from any property lines to prevent any disagreements with your neighbors.
Step 5: Dig a New Hole
After selecting a new location, start digging a hole. The size of the hole should be at least twice as wide as the root ball of the tree you’re going to transplant.
Don’t forget to moisten the hole using a watering hose and loosen the soil to reduce the stress of your trees. Loose soil makes it easier for the roots to adjust to their new environment and spread out.
Step 6: Remove the Tree from Its Old Location
Now that you know where to place your tree and the hole has been dug up, dig up the tree from its old location. Make sure to place a tarp close to the tree because this is where you will set the root balls.
Grab your shovel and start digging about three feet away from the trunk of the tree. As you continue to dig, you will be able to assess the size of the root ball and root system of the tree.
Once you uncover the root ball, carefully slide your shovel under it, lift it out from the ground, and place it on the tarp.
Step 7: Plant the Tree in the New Location
Using the tree dolly, move the tree to the new location. Gently slide the tree into the new hole to prevent damaging any roots. Once the tree is set in the new hole, moisten the roots and cover the root ball using loose soil. Add water intermittently as you fill the hole with loose soil.
After filling up the hole, spread a layer of mulch to insulate and protect the tree.
Step 8: Maintain and Care for the Tree
Transplanting trees isn’t a one-time stint; you need to maintain and care for your trees days and months after transplanting them to ensure their health. Without proper maintenance, your newly transplanted trees might die.
When you finish a transplant, prioritize watering your trees once a day. Regularly applying a bug spray also helps to prevent pests from infesting your trees.
New roots will take some time to form, but patience and regular watering can expedite the process.
Hire Professionals
While some people have the confidence to transplant trees on their own, others don’t want to take any chances, especially when dealing with young or mature trees. If you belong to the latter, fret not because you can always hire a tree maintenance company that can transplant trees for you.
For instance, a tree relocation service like Panorama Tree Care could be the perfect choice. Our company has gained over 24,000 satisfied customers because of the quality of our services. Our team is fully licensed and insured, so you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your trees are transplanted by the best in the industry.
You can contact us at (813) 234-9842 or fill out this form to discover our tree transplanting costs. Hire us today, so you don’t have to worry about the health of your trees once they’re transplanted!
