Question
Dear Jim,
I read your answer of 07/30/07 to the individual who wanted to transplant a Japanese Maple and who lived in TN. I, too, live in the Memphis, TN area and would like to move a Seiryu this month. Your advice was to move such a tree in the spring as soon as the frost is off the ground. Some of our local nurserymen recommend that newly established trees be moved in early November. Do you agree?
The Seiryu in question is one of a pair that originally were bought as five gallon trees and have been in the ground about four years. This Seiryu is planted in heavy shade, is only about 54" high, and still is quite narrow in the trunk. It is failing to thrive. Its companion, in a spot which receives heavy morning sun, is four times its size and is breathtakingly gorgeous at this point. Every tree specialist who ever has visited my yard has been drawn to it and has examined it as if it were a precious gem. The other one attracts no attention ...
I would like to move the failing to thrive Seiryu to a spot similar to, and close to, the thriving one. I thought about buying a third one for this purpose but am feeling courageous enough to attempt to move the one in question. Is this the correct decision in your opinion? It is not as if the failing one is "broke" exactly (as in, if it isn't, don't "fix" it), but I now know that a second one near to the thriving one would be beautiful, and there is a blank spot in the right location for another one.
Most importantly, should I take this risk now in early November in northwest MS, or, in your opinion, should I wait until March? Further, were the rootball I dig up turn out to be about 30" wide by 12-18" deep, how much do you suppose it would weigh, and could I pick it up by myself (I am a woman of about 110 lbs. but strong)? The soil I would be getting around this tree is heavily amended, i.e., it will not contain much of our native and concrete-heavy clay. Should I have a heavy duty garbage bag laid out on the ground and ready to be wrapped around the root ball before I, or anyone, attempts to pick it up?
Any tips you might have for me will be greatly appreciated!
Answer
I would wait until the hardwood leaves have fallen and then go ahead and move the tree now. In Mississippi you do not have to contend with the ground freezing so either this Fall or in early Spring before the plant leafs out would be good. It is going to be heavy say about 150-250 lbs depending on the type of soil. The biggest problem will be getting it out of the hole. There are machines that can dig a tree and move it with ease but it will depend on if the machine can get to the tree and if one is available near you. I do not know the cost of this but would think it will depend on the size of the tree. OR if you get it out of the hole you might consider renting a small Bob with a front lift to move it to the new hole.
The new hole should be twice the size of the root ball and as deep and fill with good top soil and mulch around the tree with not more than 3 inches deep of organic mulch (pine straw is good) not piled up on the trunk. water the tree if it does not rain once a week.
Here is a web link to one of these machines and a contact list. You might also if interested check with your local nursery and they might know of one close. maybe a landscaping company
http://www.vermeer.com/vcom/EnvironmentalEquipment/Line.jsp?PrdlnID=3840
This is going to be a pretty big job but not impossible.
