We’re working with a landscaper to redo our front yard, and part of the plan involves moving our lace-leaf Japanese maple (which appears to be several decades old, probably 6-8″ diameter trunk at least) to another part of our yard. The previous plan had been to wait until the end of summer to transplant it, but the landscaper just reached out to me and said that he’d like to move it in the next two weeks. He said that the new growth has hardened off by this time in July, and it’s ok to move now.
That’s concerning to me, since everything I’m reading makes it clear that you shouldn’t transplant any tree, let alone a large mature one, in the middle of summer. It’s in the 90s and sunny here in Boston this time of year, and I imagine that would be a lot of stress. I should note that this is a landscape design firm that supposedly specializes in transplanting mature trees. On their website they show them moving massive, decades-old trees on behalf of large institutions, and they say that they use a Bare Root Transplanting (BRT) technique which enables them to transplant trees while they are in leaf. So, this isn’t just some random place. Whether that means they have my particular tree’s best interest in mind here or not is another story.
Should I just say no?
Here is the tree (picture from a few years ago, we’ve since exposed the root flare, don’t worry haha): https://imgur.com/a/5bIcxDH
by DoingHouseStuff
25 Comments
If they have a machine with the giant spade; should be fine. Just be prepared to water it every day as if it were a fresh plant until winter. If they show up with shovels, tell them to come back in october.
Wait for fall, roots will get cooked if too hot in summer. Might want to get a new landscaper IMO
Why don’t you ask a local arborist this question?
Japanese maples tend to transplant better than a lot of other trees. These people seem to know what they’re doing.
I’m going a little against opinions on here. Hope I don’t get too negged.
The transplant “can” be done right now, so long as they don’t dig it out and let it sit out in the sun; it needs to go into it’s new home as soon as it’s been dug out. Yes, you will have to water it daily for a week, and almost every other day until Fall when the leaves start to change (and maybe for a week or two after that as well). Really, trees and bushes may be planted at any time of year, so long as proper care is done given the time of the season is taken into account. Japanese Maples are generally pretty tough trees. They don’t like having constantly wet roots, but given the size of your Japanese Maple (looks like a Tamukeyama….a very nice one!), it can and will need more water to lessen any transplant stress. My main concern would be the soil composition of where it’s going. Assuming it’s pretty similar to where it’s been growing, things should be fine. If it isn’t, I might be a more concerned with transplant stress.
That said, I would probably elect to do a transplant in Fall or very early Spring as it’s a bit safer and less stressful. However, the transplant can go forward if it’s needed.
Well there is transplanting and there is transplanting. I would still rather see it moved in the spring and it be trenched pruned ready for for such a move.. however, it completely depends upon the soil, and the equipment they have at their disposal. Are they coming with a big spade, or are they hand digging.. bayberry nursery in Hampton falls New Hampshire used to do a marvelous job of hand digging and burlap8ng. But then again everything was probably largely root pruned in ready to go in that case.. It also depends how old the tree is and how long it’s been there etc so many variables..
If they are the experts however I would defer to their knowledge.. You know it’s certainly can be done just a matter of how well it will be done. But you are there so you should know
You can transplant trees in the middle of the summer, but you have to water them like it is the middle of the summer. Ideally, trees should be root pruned in the spring. They ensures growth roots are within the rootball when the tree is moved, otherwise the movement may not leave enough growth roots. Ideally, you root prune for two years before moving.
I think the odds of success are lower if moving in summer without root pruning. If these guys are experts (truly arborists) and they have a track record with tools and a method that works, I’d let them move it.
Edit: light reading: https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/transplanting-established-trees-shrubs/
Here’s the thing – it sounds like this company takes their reputation pretty seriously. Moving massive old trees successfully is no small undertaking and it sounds like they know their stuff and are confident in their abilities. Have you discussed with them what happens if the tree doesn’t make it the rest of this season/doesn’t come back next season? Whether that be this summer or later on per the previous plan. That’s important. I’d have to imagine that if something happened and this tree didn’t make it, they’d replace it with one as just as big and old, if not bigger and older. If it were me, I would go ahead and allow them to do their thing this summer and trust them. I would tell them they can do it this summer instead of later on, but I’d make it abundantly clear that this tree is sentimental/important to me. And if something goes wrong from pushing up the timeline of transplant, I’m absolutely going to need another spectacular japanese maple that is on par or larger and older and more spectacular than the one I had.
All that said, YOU are the customer, it’s your call. Don’t let them pressure you into pushing up the time line if you’re not comfortable with it!
Career nurseryman here.
If your landscaper isn’t just a mow and blow guy, go for it.
I would ask them to wait if possible. They can get everything prepped and ready. Googling it says to move them about a month before the ground freezes. If your ground doesn’t freeze then fall through early spring. Some landscapers don’t know much about plants, oddly enough. Just my experience though.
Generally you should wait until late fall or winter when tree is dormant and weather is cool/cold. Depends on where tree is located. I am in California and it is not currently. If tree is important to you I would wait until end of the year when tree is dormant. A lot of landscapers will push sound this to stay on track with their schedule even though it isn’t best practices to do it this way. If you are in cold climate and can water a LOT you might be able to get away with it but it is not ideal. Consider talking to an arborist if you can
I was gifted a mature Japanese maple from friends who were doing a major renovation. They couldn’t leave it in the root ball in Maryland in Aug. We hired our handyman who rented a backhoe and drove it the mile between our houses. Worked out fabulously. He dug the hole by hand because of the sprinkler system. We watered it well every day for the rest of the season. The landscape company wanted $3k for a free tree that we didn’t know was going to take. Ended up spending $500.
Absolutely say no. Go to your state’s Cooperative Extension Service website and read up on moving mature trees. Fall is the time to transplant. You can begin roof pruning now to up your chances of success.
big nope
Yikes, I’d have your landscaper leave that beauty in peace if I were you
I’d wait until it’s dormant for sure.
Let the pros do their thing
It’s YOUR yard, YOUR money, tell him that YOU would prefer to have the tree moved in the fall. If he cannot accommodate, hire someone else. More than likely, he’ll accommodate.
I am guessing you are using Acorn? Their main business is moving trees. I think it will probably be ok. Just as someone else said, you’ll need to be vigilant with watering (hard to believe considering all the rain we’re getting…)
I would wait just so that I wouldn’t have to water it every day until winter
IDK I love Japanese Maples, I would ask they warranty the move for a year (no matter what). I agree with the other posters, as long as they have a good plan in place and walk you through it and you know about aftercare it’s probably going to be OK.
I just worry about moving a mature tree like that to a new place with potentially different sun exposure and element exposure. IDK to me if you move it, be OK with losing it. If you don’t want it to die, keep it where it’s at.
Have transplanted numerous established acers myself, they’re hardy af when it comes to surviving transplantations. I’ve done them all times of the year, as others have said just be careful not to plant directly in the sun if you decide to transplant in the hottest of the summer etc
I did it once for once of my clients years ago, and the thing is thriving.
Lots of water, and put down some mulch.
You will kill it. Guaranteed. Should be moved in late Fall and by pros.
We’ve moved them in the summer before, can’t recall one ever dying. That being said we’d make a large “donut” around the tree and fill it several times a day. On a tree like that, which would be pricy to replace, we’d tell the customer to water it and go back ourselves frequently, like almost every day if it’s hot for at least a few weeks.