Hi bud1957,
Please contact your Local Extension Office for definitive information
on how to transplant your tree.
Click on your state, then on the next page click on your county:
http://gardening.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=gardening&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.csrees.usda.gov%2FExtension%2Findex.html
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Here is some *very general* information on the Techniques for
Transplanting Large Trees
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/trees/f1147w.htm#Techniques
"Special considerations are necessary when moving large trees. If
trees are over 3 inches in diameter, special equipment is often
required to transport the tree. Depending on the size of the tree and
the technique used, the equipment may include hand carts, winches,
tree spades, or cranes. If trees will be transported on a truck,
precautions must be taken to ensure that they will clear power lines,
bridges, and other obstacles. Permits may be required to transport
large trees on some public roads. For trees not grown with the
benefits of nursery production, root pruning the trees for two or more
years prior to transplanting may prove beneficial in reestablishment."
Click on figure 5 (13KB b&w illustration)
"When hand digging, the techniques are the same as for smaller trees.
Hand dug large trees may be balled and burlapped (B&B) or boxed.
Larger B&B trees should have additional support provided by rope or
wire. Chicken wire is a convenient material that can be wrapped
outside of the burlap to support root balls. If a crane is used to
pull the B&B or boxed tree from the hole, lift from the bottom of the
root ball. Ensure that the trunk is heavily padded if a cable must be
secured around it to balance the tree during removal. Since there is
potential for severe bark injury, cables should be secured around the
trunk only when they are absolutely necessary to stabilize the tree
for lifting and transporting.
Boxing trees is sometimes preferable to B&B. Boxes will hold the root
ball more securely than burlap. This is helpful in sandy soil or when
trees are held for extended periods of time. Trees are dug in the same
way as B&B, only the root ball is formed to fit snugly into a box.
After the lateral roots are severed, the sides of the box are secured
in place. Then the descending roots are severed and the bottom of the
box is secured before lifting from the hole. Large boxes require heavy
metal bands or other support to hold them together. Boxes may also be
used to transplant trees which are larger than mechanical spades can
successfully transplant. These trees should be side-boxed with the
root ball diligently monitored to prevent drying out for at least
three months prior to severing the descending roots and securing the
bottom of the box.
Tree spades have become increasingly popular and are commonly used by
professionals to move trees quickly and inexpensively. Only
individuals properly trained in the maintenance and operation of tree
spades should use them. Sharp blades reduce damage to roots during
transplanting. Crushed or shredded roots caused by dull blades will
develop more dieback than clean cut roots. Large trees should not be
transplanted with root balls smaller than 12 inches in diameter for
each 1 inch in trunk caliper. If multiple trees are being
transplanted, all of the trees may be dug and stored B&B or boxed
before transporting them to the new site. Increased transplant success
may be achieved by tilling an 18 to 24 inch wide band adjacent to the
outer edge of the root ball. This allows easier penetration of roots
from the transplant ball into the adjacent soil area. If planting into
clay soils, the sides of the hole should be roughened with a rake or
shovel. When tree stability is questionable, guy at three locations,
using non-abrasive materials, only until the tree has adequately
reestablished anchorage through new root development.
Click on figure 6 (5KB b&w illustration)
Before moving a large tree, keep in mind that smaller trees of a
particular species typically transplant better and catch up in growth
to larger trees of the same species. A general rule is for each inch
in caliper, a year is required for transplant recovery; therefore, a 4
inch caliper tree may require four years to recover from the
transplant procedure before normal, active growth resumes."
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Best regards,
tlspiegel |
