Question
QUESTION: I live in So Cal about 2 miles from the ocean and have several S Nicolai specimens about 10 yrs old that are already 15-20ft tall.
We are about to remodel the house - how should I go about transplanting them?

ANSWER: Hi John, They are pretty well developed at this point, but you should be able to get most the root system; don't be too concerned with this, they are pretty resilient plants. Just go ahead and lift them and place them where you want, just water them real well prior to digging them up and then give them a good watering after you place them in their new location. Birds are pretty easy to transplant, they may stress a little after you move them,but they will bounce back for you in a month or so, and you will see new growth. I would advise pruning them back somewhat prior to lifting them, so the disturbed roots system will be sustaining a smaller crown. Nick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, Nick, for the very prompt reply.

How radically do you recommend prune them since they must weigh a ton.  I will probably have to keep them in containers for a month or 2 before re-planting them on-site.

Thanks again

--john--

Answer
..Cut them back pretty good, because you are going to lose a good part of the existing root system (rhizome) so the less crown it has to support the better; you won't hurt it, so don't be afraid to take some of the larger shoots out at ground level. Nick