Transplanting Specific Types Of Trees

May 11, 2009 - PRLog -- Consider Transplant Success
Before transplanting a woody plant, evaluate whether or not the tree or shrub is likely to be a successful transplant. Transplanting stresses trees and shrubs. Such stress may cause plants to die or to become unattractive. Plants which are already in advanced stages of decline are especially likely to succumb to transplantation stress. Often a young nursery-grown plant will resume growth sooner than an older transplanted tree or shrub and will provide more long-term benefits in the new planting location. Shrubs have better transplant tolerance than trees, deciduous plants better than evergreens, shallow rooted species better than deep rooted species, and younger plants better than older plants. Some species tend to withstand transplanting better than others (Table). When deciding whether or not to transplant a tree or shrub, or to start over with a young plant, consider the species transplant tolerance, condition of the plant, season to transplant, new planting site conditions, the equipment needed, and follow-up care.

Transplant tolerance of different tree species.
Common Name Scientific Name Transplantability*
Alder Alnus sp. Medium-high
American Hop-hornbeam** Ostrya virginiana Medium-low
Apple & crabapple** Malus sp. Medium-high
Ash, Black** Fraxinus nigra Medium-high
Ash, Green Fraxinus pennsylvanica High
Birch, Paper Betula papyrifera Medium
Birch, River Betula nigra High
Buckeye Aesculus sp. Medium-low
Elm, American Ulmus americana High
Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba Medium
Hackberry** Celtis sp. High
Hawthorn** Crataegus sp. Medium
Honey-locust, Common Gleditsia triacanthos High
Kentucky Coffee Tree Gymnocladus dioica Medium
Larch Larix sp. Medium
Linden, American** Tilia americana Medium-high
Maple, Silver Acer saccharinum High
Maple, Sugar** Acer saccharum Medium-high
Mountain-ash** Sorbus sp. Medium-high
Oak, Bur** Quercus macrocarpa Medium-low
Pine Pinus sp. Medium-high
Plum & chokecherry** Prunus sp. Medium-high
Poplar & cottonwood Populus sp. High
Russian-olive Elaeagnus angustifolia Medium-high
Spruce Picea sp. Medium-high
Sumac Rhus sp. High
Walnut Juglans sp. Low
Willow Salix sp. High
* Relative tolerance of genus or species to transplanting.
** If stored dormant for an extended period of time, may not break bud readily after transplanting.

Note: Container-grown trees (grown in pots for several years) areoften more transplant tolerant than field-grown or established trees.

Season to Transplant
Some species may survive transplanting any time during the year when the ground is not frozen, but woody plants are preferably moved in the spring after the ground thaws and before the buds on the tree or shrub begin to swell. They may also be moved in the fall after leaf drop but before the ground freezes. Fall planting should take place soon after leaf drop, providing time for new water absorbing roots to develop before the soil freezes. This is often difficult to estimate in the Northern Plains. Since evergreens are especially prone to winter browning if planting is delayed until shortly before the ground freezes in the fall, they should be moved late in the summer to early fall. Properly applied antitranspirants may help reduce the effects of winter desiccation in some species. Fall transplant success may be increased by transplanting hardy plants into sites with good soil moisture and wind protection. Woody plants that are transplanted in late spring and early summer, when shoot growth is at its peak, tend to show the greatest transplant injury.

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