After posting yesterday on Fall being a great time to transplant, as well as plant, I came across this post of trees being harvested. I have never seen this type of machine; I am more familiar with tree spades, which take a much larger root ball.

I know these are young trees, maybe six to eight years old. I thought gardeners should see how little a root ball can be taken. I don’t know that I’d recommend quite this small a root ball, but if you do wish to transplant a tree or shrub this Fall, you can see that it does not need to be a massive effort! The exposed roots will probably be wrapped in burlap for transport, which is known as Ball and Burlap or B&B. The rows of trees in the video were probably tilled between the trees at least twice a year, to keep down weeds as well as to keep the trees from forming a wide root system.

If you’re transplanting trees or shrubs get the plant in its’ new home as soon as possible, then water well and continue to water until freeze up. It is critical (!) that the soil level on the plants is the same in the new place: do not bury trunks or stems. I would also highly recommend a root stimulant with mycorrhizal fungi. Read more of the science of this natural product here. It is really a great addition.

Happy Transplanting!