Question
Hello,

When is the best time to transplant sugar maple or white birch? I am in a zone 4-5 area, New Brunswick Canada, (north of Maine). Snow is usually on the ground until mid-late april.

Thank you.

Answer
As soon as the ground is not frozen and the snow is gone and just before or as the trees leaf out.
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 fill the excess hole with potting soil, mulch around the tree with not more than 3 inches deep of organic mulch and water.