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Open and deepen the circle you cut around the maple until you can slide a shovel under the root ball. Loosen the roots by moving the shovel back and forth. Lift the tree with root ball intact onto a tarp or wheelbarrow. Transport the maple to its new planting location by pushing the wheelbarrow or dragging the tarp.
How big of a maple tree can you transplant?
Maple trees (Acer spp.) are easy to transplant successfully, especially when they are only three years old, 6 to 10 feet tall and can still be transplanted bare-root.
When can you transplant maple trees?
Maples tend to keep growing well into fall, so late fall, just as the canopy becomes bare, is the best time to transplant.
Do maples have deep roots?
Most of the Maple trees have roots as deep as 12 to 18 inches from the soil surface and spreading up to a distance of 25 ft. As the tree grows in size, these roots sometimes come out of the surface. The roots present near the surface can also cause damage to the concrete sidewalks, porches and nearby buildings.
Can I transplant a maple tree in summer?
Here’s a “How to” for transplanting your small sugar maple saplings: Plant your maple saplings between now and mid-October. Don’t wait for spring. Maples grow best in a well drained loamy to sandy loam soil.
How do you care for a maple tree transplant?
Water the soil around the transplanted maple tree regularly and deeply so that the soil around the roots is constantly moist but not wet. As a general rule, give the tree a deep soaking whenever soil 3 to 4 inches below the surface, in a spot next to the tree, feels dry to the touch.
Do trees go into shock when transplanted?
Transplant shock occurs when a tree, either young from a nursery or a long-standing tree, is moved to a new area and experiences stress. This condition is common in newly transplanted trees as they try to establish a new root system.
Is fall a good time to transplant trees?
If you wait to dig up and transplant your tree and shrub until the temperatures are cooler and humidity higher, your tree and shrub will have a better chance of quick recovery and have more of a chance to develop new roots before next spring’s growing season. Aug 30, 2016.
How far away from a house should a maple tree be planted?
A maple or similarly large tree should not be planted 10 feet from a home. Even doing so for shade means the tree should be planted 20 or more feet from the structure. Planting 10 feet away means the limbs will most certainly be in a constant struggle with the house side.
How much space does a maple tree need?
The recommended planting distance between maple trees is generally 25 feet. This figure takes into account how the roots of some species of maples grow deep while others produce shallow roots that grow nearer the surface of the soil.
Do maple tree roots grow down or out?
Do Maple Tree Roots Grow Down Or Out? Most maple tree roots grow out instead of down. They stay relatively close to the surface but spread far away from the tree trunk. This is why you don’t want to plant one right next to any building structure.
Can you transplant a 20 foot maple tree?
You can transplant a young maple successfully if you act with care, but call in professionals for larger specimens. “Moving large trees is not the problem. Moving large trees and having them survive after the transplant is the problem,” according to the University of California’s Oak Woodland Conservation Workgroup.
What’s the best time to transplant?
Experts agree that fall is one of the best times for transplanting, but spring is also considered good. Each season has advantages that the other lacks. Many claim that fall is the best time to transplant trees and shrubs. Fall transplants can benefit from the months of cooler, moister weather ahead.
How fast do maple trees grow?
Some trees are slow growers (20-30 years to reach full size) and some are fast (10-15 years). The good news is that red maples grow at medium speed; in the tree world, this equals about 12-18 inches of height a year.
How long does it take for a plant to recover from transplant shock?
For instance, vegetables can recover from the shock after 2-4 weeks of transplanting. However, plants such as trees can take up to two years or more before they can recover from all transplant shock stress. Eventually, for some plant trees, it can them up to 5 years before they can fully recover from transplant shock.
How long does tree transplant shock last?
Transplant shock is difficult to predict and could last anywhere from two weeks to five years. There are a couple of ways to avoid the issue altogether, though, especially for gardeners who are willing to take the time to research their plants and identify how and when transplanting should be done.
How do you help a tree with a transplant shock?
How to Save a “Dying” Transplanted Tree Hydrate roots with at least one inch of water each week. Add a two-to-four-inch deep layer of mulch from the tree’s base to its outermost leaves. Then, pull the mulch a few inches away from the trunk. You want to avoid volcano mulching. More on that here.
