Asked by: Tianna Meglio
home and garden landscaping

Is it better to transplant a tree in the winter or summer?

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When to Move Trees
Don't move evergreens during a growth flush or in the fall when it's too late for them to become established before winter weather arrives. Late summer is usually a good time to move evergreens. Tree and shrub roots extend well beyond the volume of soil that you will be able to move.


Regarding this, what month is best to transplant trees?

Plan to Transplant Pine, Oak, Maple or Fruit Trees When Dormant. Just like pruning, the best time of year to transplant a tree is when it's dormant in spring or fall. In fall, transplant before the first frost. In spring, plan to relocate before the tree starts sprouting.

One may also ask, can you transplant trees in the summer? When to Transplant Trees and Shrubs In summer, transplanting is not advisable because the weather is simply too hot and the stresses on the plant are too great. And in many climates, the frozen ground makes it virtually impossible to move plants in winter.

Subsequently, one may also ask, is it OK to transplant trees in the winter?

Answer: All trees and shrubs should be transplanted during their winter dormant time (mid-December through mid-February). Transplanting means that roots have to be cut, and the plants benefit by not having that done while they're growing actively.

How do you successfully transplant a tree?

  1. Choose a new location carefully.
  2. Water the tree's soil one day before transplanting.
  3. In the new location, dig a hole that's about three times as wide yet the same depth as the root ball, in order to give the lateral roots room to spread out.
  4. Using a shovel, remove the topsoil near the trunk and roots of the tree.

Related Question Answers

Cerasela Blanck

Professional

How do you move a tree without killing it?

Push a shovel under the tree, if possible, and rock the tree back and forth to loosen it from the hole. Cut the roots from under the soil ball with the sharp end of a shovel or a pair of bypass pruners.

Hakkoum Cuerva

Professional

Can you uproot a tree and replant it?

Trees spread their roots deep and wide, and uprooting breaks a number of these roots. Not all uprooted trees can be saved, but in some cases you may successfully revive the tree by replanting it. Even those successfully replanted trees can suffer transplant shock, however, so post-replanting care is very important.

Jinli Agahanyan

Explainer

How do you take care of a transplanted tree?

Tree Care Tips to Help Newly-Planted and Transplanted Trees Adapt and Thrive
  1. Do: Water. Deep into roots daily for the first two weeks.
  2. Do: Mulch. Depth of 2-4 inches (consider organic mulch)
  3. Avoid: Heavy Pruning.
  4. Avoid: Overwatering.
  5. Avoid: Rigid Staking.
  6. Avoid: Harmful Fertilizing.

Ruy Adarve

Explainer

When should you replant trees?

Wait until the tree's dormant season to replant it.
The best time to replant a tree is in late fall or winter, when the tree is dormant and less likely to experience trauma. If your tree is healthy and does not immediately need replanting, keep it in its original location until its dormant season.

Harpreet Pietrowsk

Explainer

How do you get rid of large bushes?

Method 2 Digging out Bushes by Hand
  1. Put on gloves and long-sleeved clothing.
  2. Trim away smaller branches with hedge clippers.
  3. Saw thicker branches close to the trunk.
  4. Cut the stump close to the ground with a saw.
  5. Dig a trench around the bush to expose its roots.
  6. Sever the roots with a saw or loppers.

Mafalda Minovitsky

Pundit

How do you transplant evergreen trees?

  1. Dig up evergreens in late winter or early spring while the trees are still dormant.
  2. Dig up evergreens with a branch spread of no more than 4 feet.
  3. Water the evergreen deeply the night before digging it up so it will be well hydrated and less prone to stress.

Neco Cervi

Pundit

How big of a tree can you transplant?

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 3 to 4 years old may be moved as bare root transplants. Larger or older plants will need to be dug and transplanted with the root ball intact.

Jianjun Pachl

Pundit

Can I dig up plants and replant?

With a Spade Shovel or Transplanter, dig around the base off the plant at least 3 inches from the base of the stem - for larger plants start 6 to 10 inches from the bases, going slowly so that you don't damage the root zone. Dig out further if you hit roots. Try to keep the root ball intact.

Boguslawa Jodjahn

Pundit

When can you transplant oak trees?

Relocate and Transplant an Oak Tree. The best time to transplant an oak tree is between mid-December and late March when the tree is dormant, but it is no easy task. Transplants are most successful with trees that are only two or three years old and ideally under three feet in height.

Ismene Mebes

Teacher

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 and 6 to 10 feet tall and can still be transplanted bare-root. They generally grow 2 to 3 feet per year and are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 9, depending on the species.

Ethelbaldo Gschwandt

Teacher

How do you transplant an oak tree?

Act in the tree's dormancy, three to six months after the root pruning. Dig the trench deep enough that you can pass the shovel under the tap root. Lift out the root ball and set it on a tarp spread nearby. Carry or drag the sapling to the new planting area, keeping the root ball out of direct sun.

Amaury Emme

Teacher

When can small evergreens be transplanted?

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.

Abdelouahd Badstuber

Reviewer

How late can you plant evergreens?

The absolute best time to plant an evergreen conifer is very early spring when the soil has thawed and the frost is out. Evergreens will enjoy getting established in cool weather with lots of spring rain. Planting evergreens can continue late into spring as long as you make sure they get plenty of water.

Dimka Frigola

Reviewer

How do you transplant perennials?

  1. Step 1: Prep for Success. Stick mainly to fall and spring for transplanting.
  2. Step 2: Prepare the Plant's New Home First. Digging a Hole.
  3. Step 3: Soak the Soil. If the soil is very dry, water the plant first before digging it up.
  4. Step 4: Dig It Up.
  5. Step 5: Place in Hole and Add Organic Mulch.
  6. Step 6: Water Slowly and Deeply.

Rubye Baicu

Reviewer

Can trees be planted in summer?

Summer Planting is Easy!
Remember, as long as the ground isn't frozen, then summer planting is perfect. Don't worry about waiting until the fall or until next spring. Once you get your trees and shrubs planted this summer, you can go ahead and start enjoying them. As long as they get enough water, they will flourish!

Jacalyn Hanselmayer

Reviewer

Can you move lilies in the summer?

Lilies are beautiful perennial flowers that come back to bloom each summer, but over time, they can get overcrowded when their bulb structure is too large. Luckily, you can dig up your lilies at the end of the growing season to divide and plant them again.

Purisima Orlow

Supporter

Is it OK to plant a tree in summer?

A: Mid-summer isn't the greatest time to plant trees, but it can be done with container-grown trees. For one thing, it's more of a shock for transplanted trees in the heat of summer - especially if you're planting in full sun.

Liuva Udabe

Supporter

Is it OK to plant in summer?

Summer isn't as ideal of a time to plant as spring or early fall, but with a few precautions, most plants will do fine. Peak sunlight and searing heat are added stressors on young plants with small roots, not to mention, summer soil tends to be drier.

Fania Yellinik

Supporter

Is it better to plant a tree in the spring or fall?

Fall is a good time because a freshly planted tree can put its energy into root growth, not foliage, and establish itself before winter. But spring is also a fine time to plant, and offers one big advantage, say tree experts we spoke with: much better selection.