We have 2 arborvitae, both about 25 years old and about 8'-9' tall...What I'm wondering is this: Is it even possible to relocate these two gorgeous evergreens? Ideally, I'd like to move them to a different part of the same yard, so I don't think I need to worry about different pH levels (which a friend of mine had suggested). Also, if I WAS able to relocate these evergreens, how would I do it? I mean, hubby is a pretty big, strong guy with a few big, strong friends - would all that man-power be enough to pick these things up and move them 15'? One last thing - how big of a root ball am I looking at under these things?...Thanks in advance!
2007-09-02 08:13:04 · 4 answers · asked by MsJenn521 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
It can be done, but you might be putting them at some risk. Ideally, there should be a big root ball, probably 30 inches wide and 24 inches deep.
The hole should be about 44 inches wide at the top and a good 30 inches deep.
Make sure you use good top soil all around and under the arborvitae, including the soil that you dug out with the shrub. Tamp the soil in firmly.
Water it 2-3 times per week. If you're in a cold climate, make sure they freeze wet, not dry.
2007-09-02 08:32:28 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bare minimum they'll have to take 1 foot diameter root ball for every inch trunk diameter measured within a couple inches of the ground. Normally with deciduous trees you measure about 50 inches up the trunk, but your's is impossible to reach in there. So a 5 inch diameter tree would need a five foot wide root ball.
Unless hubby and his buddies are X Men mutants, they are not going to lift the trees.....the tree, root ball, soil will approach 700-1,000 lbs. ( haven't looked this up, I guessing here) Also the amount of roots lost would be incredible as I don't think they are going to big a big enough root system to get even 10% of the root system.
Professional tree movers use special hydraulic diggers and lifters. I question of they could get into the yard, unless we are talking front yard and you are willing to contend with a bit of turf damage.
Then there's the cost. It's more than a keg of beer!
Plus the time of year to do this is late winter, not exactly comfortable time of year to be doing grunt labor.
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/trees/f1147w.htm
2007-09-02 10:37:49 · answer #2 · answered by fluffernut 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Time for renting a tree spade ($$$$). Or just plant a couple more and remove the present ones.
If you do decide to move the current trees, a couple of cautions:
1) never attempt to move a tree by lifting by the trunk (the rootball
often breaks, disrupting the water column and killing the tree) and
2) maintain the same orientation of the tree... mark N on the tree by tying a ribbon on that side, and then replant *at precisely the same depth* with the ribbon facing N in the new location. It's much, much easier on the tree.
2007-09-02 13:30:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have someone with a tree spade give you an estimate and obtusely quiz him about the size of the root ball. This will give you a better idea if it can be done with manpower alone. Another option would be plant two trees 15 ft. away as you said and remove the others at a later date. Good 'answer''kay', not many people know about plant orientation. Ficus and a few other house plants also need to be kept oriented. RScott
2007-09-02 08:42:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋