Tip of the Week – When to Plant and Transplant Trees

“To plant or not to plant, that is the question.” There are a number of conditions and criteria that determine the optimal time for planting and transplanting trees. There are also a variety of situations that may arise. It’s important to keep the health of the tree in mind when deciding to plant or transplant.

In early spring or as soon as the ground has thawed, is the ideal time for planting and transplanting both deciduous and evergreen trees. There are some tree species that should be planted in early spring only. This includes Oak, Hawthorn and Birch trees. In the Chicago area, early spring usually begins in March, but it can vary year to year. Once trees have started bud break (leaves begin emerging) or new growth has started, digging large nursery trees and transplanting should stop. To unnecessarily dig or transplant trees after early spring may cause severe tree damage, or even death. There are times when early spring is no longer an option. In those situations, late summer is the second best time for planting and transplanting trees. This is typically mid-August to end of September. New tree growth should have stopped by this time, making tree digging safer. Evergreen trees especially benefit from planting and transplanting during the late-summer time period. It allows the Evergreen to get a jumpstart on root regeneration before winter begins.

While there are preferred times of the year when planting and transplanting is best, there are also situations that call for a modification to the usual rules. When the alternative to moving the tree is tree death, it is best to transplant. When the tree is in the path of new construction, it becomes necessary to move the tree, no matter the time of year. As long as the soil is not frozen, it is safe to dig and transplant to save the life of a tree. But, the digging methods are a little different. To improve the tree’s chance of survival, make sure a majority of the tree’s root system is left intact. In more normal circumstances, it’s recommended that for every inch of trunk diameter, twelve inches of ball diameter are dug. “Overdigging” is required when a tree is planted or transplanted in less than ideal situations. This requires more than twice the normally recommended root ball diameter left intact with the tree. For large trees, this is a substantial root ball size.

Tree spades are a useful tool when transplanting or planting large trees. Transplanting and planting can occur almost year-round with a tree-spade dug tree and the tree has a higher survival rate. Tree spades keep a greater portion of the tree’s root system intact, which reduces tree stress and the amount of time needed for the tree to become acclimated to its new location.

Determining the tree’s survival chance is the most important consideration when deciding the best time to plant or transplant a tree. A Certified Arborist is trained to evaluate all factors, with the tree’s health as the most important component. Contact KTS for more information on planting and transplanting trees. KTS not only offers the services of Certified Arborists, we have the specialized equipment and expertise needed to successfully plant and transplant trees up to 8” in trunk diameter.