How to Transplant Trees and Shrubs

1. Calculate the Size of the Root Ball

   Estimate the width and depth of the root ball (roots plus soil) by doing a bit of exploratory digging around the plant. The width of the new hole should be twice that of the plant's root ball. However, you might want to keep the hole's depth a bit shallower than the root ball to avoid puddling and rotting, especially if your soil has a lot of clay in it.

2. Dig the New Hole

   Dig your new hole before you dig up the tree or shrub. It's important to move the plant to its new home and get its roots covered as soon as possible after you dig it up. The longer the roots remain exposed, the more stress that's put on the plant. When you reach the bottom of the new hole, resist the temptation to break up the soil at the bottom. You might think this will help the plant's roots penetrate deeper, but it actually causes the tree or shrub to sink, inviting rot.

3. Dig Around the Plant

   Begin digging roughly 3 feet out around the perimeter of the tree or shrub. Get a feel for where the central mass of roots lies. The idea is to keep as much of the root ball intact as possible. But with large plants, you might find it hard to move the entire root ball because it will be very heavy. It's often okay to cut through some roots on large plants with a sharp shovel or pruners. Be sure to make a clean cut, which helps to prevent disease.

4. Transfer the Plant to a Tarp

   Once you have removed enough soil from around the sides of the plant, you will be able to slip your shovel under it and begin to loosen the plant's grip on the soil below it. After it is loose, spread a tarp on the ground nearby, and gently move the plant onto the tarp. With larger specimens, you might need two or three people to help lever the root ball out of the ground.

5. Move the Plant to Its New Hole

   Using the tarp as a sled, drag the plant to the new hole. Gently slide it into the hole, and adjust it so it's upright. The plant should be at the same level (or slightly higher) than it was in its old location. Shovel the excavated soil back into the hole. Firmly tamp down the soil and water as you go to eliminate air pockets, which can cause the plant to shift. Finally, mound the soil in a ring around the plant, forming a small ditch to catch water. This will help keep the roots watered until the plant becomes established.

   Tip

   In the past, the standard advice was to blend peat moss or compost with the soil before filling in around the transplant. Now, many experts believe the fill soil should be identical to the surrounding soil. This will encourage roots to explore outward rather than remain confined in a small area of unnaturally rich soil.

6. Care for the Plant

   Spread a 3-inch layer of landscape mulch around the transplant. But keep the mulch a few inches away from the base of the tree or shrub to promote air circulation and to discourage rodents from nibbling on the trunk. (Rodents become emboldened by the cover mulch provides.) Then, water well. Frequent watering is essential when transplanting shrubs and trees, especially during the first summer.

Tips for Transplanting Trees and Shrubs

Root pruning is one technique that is sometimes used to make transplanting large trees or shrubs easier. A tree's root ball is typically around 11 times the diameter of its trunk. This means a trunk that's 3 inches in diameter would have a root ball nearly 3 feet across. It would be no small feat to get that root ball out of the ground.

Root pruning involves severing the outer roots before digging up the plant. Some experts even recommend doing this in the fall prior to spring transplanting. Trench vertically down around the perimeter of the root ball to a depth of at least 1 foot. The goal is to sever all lateral roots extending out from the tree.

For trees with trunks larger than roughly 3 inches in diameter, consider hiring a tree service to move your plant with a motorized spade. Large trees generally die if you try to dig them up by hand.

Finally, if a tree or shrub must remain out of the ground for more than a few hours before replanting—which might be the case if you're moving it a long distance—swaddle the root ball tightly in burlap. Keep it well-watered until it can be planted. Trees and shrubs can remain alive for many weeks in this fashion if the roots stay embedded in the soil.