Wilson Bros Gardens LLC

Need to relocate a shrub or tree to a new spot in your landscape or gardens? This article is here to provide you with information and instructions that will increase the survivability rate of the plants you transplant. 

If you intend on doing the transplanting yourself, lets hope it's not as big as the one in the picture above! If so, you might want to consider letting a professional with some heavy equipment get the job done!

There are two very important things to consider before relocating a shrub or tree:

Start relocation by digging the planting hole at the location where you intend to move your plant to. In order to know what size to dig the hole, estimate the width and depth of the rootball. To do this, do a bit of exploratory digging around the plant. The width of the new hole should be twice that of the rootball that will exist after digging up the plant. The depth of the planting hole should be kept a bit shallower, to avoid puddling.

TIP: When digging up your plant try to get as many roots as possible. Fortunately, many shrubs and trees are shallow-rooted, which means the bulk of their roots are just below the surface of the ground. 

After digging the relocation planting hole, when digging in heavy clay soils, it might be beneficial to thoroughly mix in a good conditioner at a ratio of 1/3 part organic matter with 2/3 part the native soil you removed from the planting hole. Bagged top soil will do fine.

Next you'll dig the tree or shrub you intend on transplanting. Don't start digging right at the base of a tree or shrub. Instead, if possible, start your digging at a point outside and around the outside perimeter of the branch system. Remember, the general rule of thumb when transplanting an existing shrub or tree is to keep as much of the root system, and the soil around it, intact as possible. With larger plants or trees, you'll have to cut through some roots. Once you've removed enough soil from around the perimeter of the plant, you'll eventually be able to slip your shovel under it and begin to loosen the roots grip on the soil below it. After it's loose, spread a tarp on the ground nearby and gently move the tree or shrub onto the tarp.

TIP:  Before moving your shrub or tree, it's a good idea to wrap the rootball with the tarp you placed it on. Then wrap the rootball with the tarp and tie it around base of the trunk, and around the rootball, with string. Doing so will keep soil from falling away from the roots during transport to the relocation site. 

A light to medium shearing or pruning of most transplants is recommended. During the digging out process some roots are almost always damaged or cut. To compensate for this root loss, I usually remove 10 to 20 percent of the existing foliage on the outside of the plant to help the recovery process. The more roots that are damaged the more I prune.

Using the tarp as a transporting medium, drag the tree or shrub over to the new hole. With larger plants you'll probably need some help. Gently slide the rootball into the relocation planting hole and set it straight. Make sure that the top of the rootball is level with the existing ground around the hole, or at the same level it was in it's original location.

Next, begin to shovel the excavated soil back into the hole under and around the roots of your plant. Tamp this soil down firmly and water a little as you go to eliminate any air pockets. Air pockets can cause the tree or shrub to shift after transplanting.

After backfilling the hole you can use leftover soil to create a water retention ring around your newly relocated plant, as shown in the diagram above. Mound up the soil in a ring just outside and around the perimeter of the rootball, forming a berm that will catch water like a basin. Building this berm will help you achieve your main objective from here on out. Until your transplant re-establishes itself, you'll want to water enough to keep the soil around the roots moist, but not constantly soggy or wet.

Apply a 1 to 2" layer of aged, shredded or chipped wood mulch or a 3-4" layer of pine straw around the planting area. This will help to conserve moisture and suppress weed growth. As the mulch decomposes it will add vital nutrients to the soil that your plant will appreciate. Do not use freshly chipped or shredded wood for mulch until it has cured in a pile for at least 6 months, a year is better. Avoid placing or piling mulch directly against the base of your plant as this could cause the bark to rot.

Now say a prayer than your shrub or tree doesn't go into shock. No, there is always a chance that your tree will not survive transplanting, though if you followed all the tips in this article you've substantially increased the odds!