Q&A for How to Transplant a Young Tree

Spring or fall after the threat of frost has passed. Avoid transplanting trees during the heat of the summer.

A professional may be able to transplant a 15’ blue spruce. I don’t recommend transplanting a tree that large. There will invariably be root damage during transplanting and reestablishment in a tree that large/old will be difficult.

Make sure your young tree is well watered. You can also put bone powder on the ground around the trunk.

The "drip line" created by a mature tree or a specific breed should dictate their spacing. They may grow closer together, but competition between root systems isn't good.

You have to be very careful not to damage its roots and to relocate it quickly otherwise it could go into shock or die.

I've had the most success digging up and planting the tree while it's raining and there's lots of moisture in the air. Ideally, choose a time when it has been raining for a day or two and the forecast calls for more rain. It doesn't have to be a huge rain, drizzling/sprinkling off and on will be fine.

You should transplant a tree when it grows out of its pot, or when it gets too large for the area where it was originally planted. If you're referring to the time of year, then I would suggest transplanting trees in the spring.

It may be difficult, and I would recommend getting a professional arborist to do the job. If you damage the root ball, the tree may die.

They will grow in just about all soil types. They like lots of organic matter in the soil. They are not to fussy about their position in sunlight or partial shade. They like moist soil.

Yes, but make sure that you're pruning your tree at the proper time of year. Do plenty of research on pruning your specific type of tree before getting started.

A young tree must be transplanted when it is small and easy to transport. You should also be very careful while transplanting, or the root ball will be damaged and the tree will die.

Depends on where they are attached and how much of a cut is needed to separate. If the cut will be greater than the trunk size of the main trunk, you run the risk of stressing the remain plant too much. Use a sharp utility knife to make a clean cut; the cleaner the cut, the easier it is to heal. You can buy an inexpensive bark coat/paste (landscaping tar-like paste) that can be applied. Cover the damaged bark area with the paste, which prevent insects and disease from entering as the plant heals itself.

A simple way to determine the quality of your existing soil is to see how the existing trees, shrubs and grass are doing: Are they thriving, or do they need some help? If the soil is rich and of good quality, there's no need to spend money on triple mix. You may want to consider mixing in a plant starter fertilizer or mix in some mulch or compost with the existing soil. Make sure that you water the tree properly after you plant; make a berm around the tree and fill with water. It is so important to get all air pockets out! Do a deep watering (letting the hose drip for a few hours) every 2 - 3 days after that for the first 3 months.