Can I transplant a 2' tall (soft) maple sapling at this time of year? How ? I live in mid - Michigan?

Question

This is a maple sapling that popped up in my vegetable garden. I'd like to transplant it into my yard, but I have no idea as to whether this is a good time of year to do it or how to do it. Thanks

Answer 1

The reason right now is an excellent time is that in fall, you don't have the hot sun stressng the transplant. Top growth soon goes dormant but root growth continues until the ground freezes - so all the tree's energy is going into establishing the root system.

This is a small tree so it should take easily. Dig around it a foot BEYOND the drip line to get as much of the root system as possible intact. Don't worry if some soil falls off - just try to get as much of the roots as possible. Have your new hole dug and waiting, not deeper but plenty wide. Water very well when you plant and once a week thereafter, right up to freeze-up. Do NOT fertilize, do NOT prune. Fertilizer will push top growth whch you do not want. Pruning will ruin the tree's natural sructure. Let it fill out of its own accord over time. Unless you have drought conditions next spring, it should not be necessary to do anything to your young tree, not even water. Let nature take its course. Good luck!

Answer 2

It is a really fine time of year to transplant. My best takes have been from transplants in the fall. However...beware. If you value the sun your garden is getting do not plant a soft maple. The maple grows quickly....really quickly and before you know it...no sun. The good side...if you are planting it where you want sun, you have picked a fast grower and a beauiful tree. To transplant, dig deep around the seedling trying hard not to remove the dirt. Lift the sapling as intact as possible. Dig a good sized hole that is at least as deep as the entire root. Make sure that the ground is very loose beneath the farthest depth of the hole. I always then throw in a handful of bone meal and mix the bone meal into the loose dirt. Place the sapling in the loose dirt and fill the hole. Add water to compact the dirt. Fill in more dirt as needed until the hole has little more than a slight depression around the sapling. Keep weed free and keep the dirt loose. Good luck

Answer 3

Maple Sapling

Answer 4

I'm in MN, It is cool overcast and rainy. Now is a good time. Water is essential. the cooler the weather the better. October is best. When a maple is 4 years old many nurseries will lop the entire sapling off 3 inches off the ground to force a strong leader up. Pick one leader and trim off all the other suckers. My husband is debating all this info with me. Anyone else out there?

Answer 5

I just transplanted a 2' - 3' maple and it is doing fine. I live in West Michigan.

Answer 6

Yup just like he says, wait until fall, when the leaves have dropped off. Then make sure to take the surrounding soil with the root ball. I transplanted a maple seedling this spring and took a one foot round ball of soil with it. Make sure you dampen the soil about an hour ahead of time, to help it stick to the root system.

Answer 7

I have always used this as a rule of thumb on transplanting trees:
Best to transplant when the sap is at it's lowest. Either in the spring before leaves appear or in the fall after the leaves fall. This has not failed me yet..

Answer 8

I would wait untill fall as suggested to transplant the tree - maples are hardy so i would not be too worried. remember how big the tree will get so choose wisely where you want to relocate it!

cheers.

Answer 9

Trees are best planted or moved in the Fall or very early Spring.