Tree Transplanting

homedad · Jul 8, 2010

I had 6 25' white pines moved about 9 years ago by a professional with a big spade. Half died over the 3 following years even with proper watering and staking. I would think that the rock shelf would be a limiting factor for a proper transplant as in getting enough roots due to the roots developing laterally.

gauthier · Jul 8, 2010

Those trees don't sound that heathy to go through that much trouble to me,30 years old and only 8 inches in dia I mean,I'm looking at a spruce in my yard[blue spruce],thats about 1/2 that age and just as big in dia.,course,its not growing out of a rock,but think you would be wasteing your time in any case.

KennyV · Jul 9, 2010

Porshaah said:
Hi All

Is a Kubota B21 capable or should I rent something

All response welcom
Bill

A B21 will not pick up the tree alone... add the dirt in an 8foot ball and you are tooo heavy.

bp fick · Jul 9, 2010

We had a tree service move some close to that size with great success. They used the largest tree spade they had. The cost was insane, but in our case, it was re-imbursed because of road expansion.

Get a free estimate. The experts will tell you a) whether you can move that large a tree and b) the optimal time of year and c) the proper steps involved.

What does seem clear to me is that you aren't going to DIY.

spruce Deere · Jul 11, 2010

Tree service outfit with big spade. Is it accessible for a truck with a 90 inch spade? With the rock shelf you describe, my not even be dig-able. B21 not enough machine unless tree is cut down and in pieces. The bigger, older the tree the more transplant mortality you will have. Like AndyMA states watering that big of trees in before digging helps. Dormant tree is better than an actively growing tree, late fall or early spring best times. I would lean towards cutt'n down the spruce and save the oak, witch will probably grow better minus the competition. We dig 300+ spruce trees a year mostly in the early spring, some in the fall, from 5 to 10 foot with very good results. The bigger the tree, the more specialized and spendy things become.