Question
I have a Chinese Pistache that is about 4 years old and about 20 feet high that I want to move. First of all, is a move possible if done by me with shovels and such without killing the roots? Secondly, how would I go about re-planting/staking to ensure its survival? Thanks.

Answer
Older 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. Mulch around the tree with not more than 3 inches of mulch not piled up on the trunk and water. Use 1 inch of water every day for two weeks and then every third day through the growing season. Place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 1 inch of water in it stop. Do this if it does not rain.