Question
We have a cabin in the mountains and live about20 miles from it. The cabin driveway has 50+ pines, under 2 feet tall, that are gradually chocking the drive. Can I transplant them to our home, which needs trees on a slight slope on two sides of the house to help with erosion. How to transport them. We do have an open trailer!
Thank you!

Answer
When you want to dig up a tree or shrub for transplanting, retain as much of the root system as possible. 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. When you put them on the trailer cover the foliage with a tarp so the wind will not dry the trees out in transit.

Size of the root ball and size of the hole:

For 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.


When you dig the new hole dig it twice the size of the rootball and as deep. 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 tree trunk. Remove any burlap before you plant the tree.