Landscape design for transplanting trees

Cool spring temperatures and moist weather provide the ultimate conditions to transplant trees and shrubs for landscape projects. If you are creating a new landscape design or just want to move a few plants around in your yard, you should do it now.  When transplanting trees and shrubs, you should make sure that the plant buds have not opened. An enlarged bud is okay, but if the plant has broken bud, it should not be moved until it goes back into dormancy.

Spring flowering trees and shrubs should be moved as soon as possible. There is still time to transplant evergreen plants as they tend to break bud later in the spring.

Dig a ring around the plant to be moved and then push your shovel inwards at a 45 degree angle. Try to get as many fibrous roots as possible as these are the roots that absorb nutrients and water. Take special care in placing the transplanted tree or shrub at the same ground level as where it was growing previously.   Placing it high can cause exposed roots and placing it low can cause the stem bark to rot.

From a landscape design perspective, plan your move before you start to dig. Think about how the moved plant will relate to its new environment, and how the old space will be utilized. You may want to consult a landscape designer or landscape architect for advice. Landscapes by Lee Itzler is available for landscape design advice and to help you move plants if you get in over your head. Keep in mind that trees can be heavy and it may be worth investing a little to see that the project gets done correctly.

The best policy to prevent the need for transplanting is not to overcrowd new plantings. Resist the temptation to let the plants touch each other . Think ahead and you will have success.