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Instructions Choose a Location. Before transplanting, determine whether the tree or shrub likes sun or shade, as well as what its spacing and watering requirements are. Calculate the Size of the Root Ball. Dig the New Hole. Dig Around the Plant. Transfer the Plant to a Tarp. Move the Plant to Its New Hole. Care for the Plant.
Are spruce trees easy to transplant?
You should try to get trees from a soil type and elevation that match the site to which you are transplanting them. Utah State University Extension Service says that success for transplanting aspens is ‘fair to good’. Picea pungens (blue spruce), the State Tree of Colorado, is reportedly relatively easily transplanted.
When can spruce trees be transplanted?
Answer: Early spring (before bud break) is the best time to transplant evergreens. Evergreens can also be transplanted in late summer (late August to mid-September).
Do spruce trees transplant well?
Blue spruce grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 7 and transplant best as container-grown seedlings in the early spring or in the fall. Bare-rooted seedlings are available but are tricky to adequately water, making them more susceptible to blue spruce transplant shock.
Do spruce trees have deep roots?
According to the U.S. Forest Service, blue spruce trees develop shallow roots after seed germinate, perhaps only 2 to 3 inches deep. This reveals that this tree species grows with a spreading, shallow root system.
How often should I water a spruce transplant?
Daily watering of newly planted spruce trees is only required for two to three days after planting. After that, normal rainfall typically provides enough moisture. Supply additional water during periods of drought. Spruce trees do not like being waterlogged.
What helps a tree with 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.
How do you water a spruce tree?
Give the tree 1 to 3 inches of water every week, unless moisture comes in the form of rainfall. Watering deeply once or twice weekly is better than more frequent, shallow irrigation, as deep watering will develop long, healthy roots. Shallow roots will be more prone to damage from drought.
How do you transplant evergreen trees?
Evergreens are most successfully transplanted in early spring and late summer (late August to mid-September). To minimize damage and improve their chance of survival, dig and move trees with balls of soil adhering to portions of their root systems. The soil should be moist when the plant is dug.
How big of a tree can you transplant?
Make sure the tree or shrub is a manageable size. Shrubs up to 3 feet tall and trees an inch or less in diameter (measured 6 inches above the soil level) can be moved without digging a solid root ball. These and most plants three to four years old may be moved as bare-root transplants.
What grows under a spruce tree?
Notable acid-loving shrubs and perennials include: rhododendrons, blueberries, bergenias, hostas, lungwort, lily-of-the-valley, and any juniper or other conifer, Hydrangea will thrive just outside the drip line, and the acidity will actually turn their flowers bluer.
How far do spruce roots spread?
Spruce roots are very powerful, as anyone with a basement next to them can tell you. Tree roots can extend as far as two or three times the width of the drip line, or the farthest point from the tree where foliage grows.
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.
What time of day is best to water trees?
The best time to water is in the morning or evening, so the roots have a chance to absorb most of the water. Unfortunately, there’s no magic schedule for watering trees. How often you should water will depend on the size of your tree, soil conditions, and weather conditions.
Do spruce trees need full sun?
Sunlight: Plant your blue spruce in an area that it will get full sun, which is at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. When do blue spruce trees bud: Since blue spruces keep their needles year-round, there’s no set bud time. However, they do grow new needles in the summertime.
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 long does it take a transplanted tree to take root?
Experts agree that a newly planted tree typically needs one year for each inch in diameter of the trunk to regain a normal root system. For example, a three-inch diameter newly planted tree will need at least three years in the ground to become fully established.
Is it normal for leaves to wilt after transplanting?
Transplant Damage Drooping leaves after a transplant can result from a lack of water, even if the plant has been given the same amount of water it usually needs. The fine roots that absorb the bulk of the water plants use are often damaged or destroyed when plants are replanted.
