Question
My friend is moving and giving me he Japanese maple. The transplant needs to take place within the next 6 weeks. How should I go about it. I've been reading alot about transplanting them and most answers say usually during the dormant months. This is not possible, what are my options?

Answer
Wait as late in the summer as possible. Generally, deciduous trees and shrubs may be planted either in the spring or the fall. Deciduous plants may be moved in the spring as soon as the frost is out of the ground, up until the time when new foliage is partly unfurled. In the fall, they may be planted once the leaves start to turn color up until the ground freezes.


When you want to dig up a tree or shrub for transplanting, retain as much of the root system as possible.

Deciduous trees 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 good top soil. Mulch around the tree with not more than 3 inches deep of organic mulch not piled up on the trunk. water with 1 inch of water every third day for the first month then every week. Place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 1 inch of water in it stop. Do not fertilize for the first year.