Question
I've transplanted afeww pinetrees during the winter (Dec-Feb) And I've lost them all (died). I take them out with most of their roots and transplant them but by early spring, their needles start to turn light green to brown.  I water them as soon as they are planted and sporadically during winter and spring, but they still die. What am I doing wrong?

I have approx. 10 more 3 year old pine trees that need to be moved this comming season since they are about a foot away from my neighboors fence. please advise, it is hard to see them die.

Answer
I do not know what you did with the other trees but here is the proper way to transplant the pines.

Evergreens should be moved early in the fall so they have time to form new roots. They need at least 6 weeks before the ground freezes.

All ages of evergreens, can be successfully moved only if a ball of soil is left around the roots. The exposed roots should be protected with moist burlap or newspaper or with polyethylene sheeting. Every effort should be made to reduce root exposure to wind and sun, keeping the ball as moist as possible. It's best to prepare the hole before digging up the tree you wish to move.

Size of the root ball and size of the hole:

For deciduous trees and shrubs the soil ball should be:

Width = 9-12 in. in diameter/every 1 in. of tree diameter
Depth = 6 in./every 1 in. of tree diameter

For example: A tree trunk 2 inches wide would need a soil ball of 18-24 inches wide and 12 inches deep.

To calculate the weight of the soil ball before you move it, use this formula:

Weight of soil ball = width of ball x depth of ball x .05 lbs.

For example: A tree trunk of 2 inches wide would have a soil ball that weighed:
(24" wide x 12" deep) x .05 lbs = 14.5 lbs.

A tree trunk of 4 inches wide would have a soil ball that weighed:
(48" wide x 24" deep) x .05 = 56 lbs.

To ensure that the soil ball is not disturbed when moving, it should be held together with a piece of burlap or sacking. "Lace" the burlap with heavy twine if the tree is to be moved a considerable distance.

Dig the new hole twice the size of the rootball and as deep so the new ground level is the same as the top of the rootball. Fill the hole with good top soil. Mulch around the trees with not more than 3 inches of mulch water with 1 inch of water each week.