Question
Jim, We have a very large honeylocus growing in our front yard, we have notice a lot of little trees sprouting up. Can those be dug up and planted else where or will they go into shock and die? If they can be moved, what do should I do, to assure them to live. The soil is clay and as dry as everything is right now and dying the locus is not. I do appreciate any help that you can give me in this matter.
Thank you
Cynthia Javor

Answer
It depends on if these new sprouts are from seed or from the root system of the parent tree. If they are from seed then they can be carefully dug and replanted. If when you dig around the sprouts and find them attached to large roots then these are from the root system of the parent tree and can not be transplanted. This time of year transplanting any plant will be risky. The best time is after the leaves have fallen in late fall. If you do try now I would put them into a pot with potting soil until they can be planted back out next spring. Dig them up with soil attached to the roots and put the rootball with the soil in a pot about twice the size of the rootball. Plant to a depth even with the top of the rootball and fill the pot with good potting soil and water. Keep out side in the shade this year and transplant them early next spring where you want them to grow. Do not be suprised if some of them die--the shock is hard on plants this time of the year. But you should be able to grow enough to plant other places.