Question
Jim,
I read your prior response regarding transplanting small blue spruce trees. I have a blue spruce that is now 8 feet tall that I started from a 4-inch seedling. I want to move it about 20 ft from its current location and within 6-8 ft from the side of the house. I don't know how far from the trunk to start digging it up, or if it has a tap root that will need to be cut. I live in Zone 5, so the ground will be freezing in the winter. I would like to move it in September. Thanks for your assistance.

Answer
Although all trees and shrubs can be moved in either spring or fall, there are some which establish themselves better when moved in the spring, such as the softwoods

Evergreens should be moved earlier in the fall than deciduous plants so they have time to form new roots. They need at least 6 weeks before the ground freezes. In the spring, Evergreens can be planted up to 4 weeks after deciduous trees have opened their leaves, providing that the newly planted trees receive adequate water.

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.

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.

Dig the new hole twice the size of the rootball and as deep and fill with 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.