Expert: Jim Hyland - 10/19/2006

Question
Jim,  I will be transplanting ten pine trees this weekend.  What is the best way to do this?  How big should the root ball be, do you severe the leader root cleanly, and what is the best way to keep the root ball in tact while digging it out and moving it in the vehicle?  Thanks, Paul

Answer
It depends on the size of the trees. The root ball should be 12 inches wide for every inch of diameter of the tree trunk (a 3 inch tree will need a 36 inch wide root ball) and 6 inches deep for every inch of diameter ( a 3 inch tree will need a dept of the root ball of 18 inches ). Yes cut the roots cleanly. When you dig the root ball up move it onto a piece of either burlap or heavy cloth and wrap the root baal and tie the top. Then it can be moved without loosing any soil. When you dig the new hole dig it twice the size of the root ball width and depth. Fill the excess with good potting or top soil. Make sure the old top of the root ball is the same level as the ground in the new hole. Mulch with not more than 3 inches of mulch. Large trees may have to be braced so they will not blow over. The size and the weight was the reason I started with "it depends on the size of the tree".
Here is a web link to more information on transplanting trees.  http://www.gardenline.usask.ca/trees/moving.html