Just like humans, trees need relocation too. Finding a better spot for your trees is one way you can take care of them. Although not all people do that, it’s better to know as early as now that trees need to grow in a place that’s perfect for their life and health. The healthier the soil, the longer your trees can live. Native trees do much better than trees from other areas of the country.

However, it’s also risky to just move and plant whenever you want. How to transplant a tree is still a question of many. That’s why there are steps and guidelines you need to be mindful of when making this decision.

To transplant a tree, make sure to follow these steps.

1) Find out the time of the year

First and foremost, you have to know what season of the year it is. The best time to transplant a tree is in fall and early spring. Ensure to do the transplant after the leaves drop and before the soil freezes. In this way, you can easily dig the ground. Early spring is also an ideal time since it is the season before trees start growing again.

2) Call 881 for help

Having someone on your side for help is a plus. You can call 881 or go to their website call811.com to ask for help to locate utilities underground. These people will be at your service so you would know where to transfer your plant exactly.

3) Measure the root ball size

Next, you have to be sure of the root ball size. Small and big trees have different diameters and you should know that. On average, a small tree needs an 8-12 inches wide trunk diameter while large trees have bigger rootball size. List down the sizes for your reference after doing the next steps.

4) Wet the soil

The ground needs to be wet before you uproot the tree. This is basic and it will help you do a smoother process. No one wants to uproot on a dry soil!

5) Dig the new spot

Now that you have a spot where you can put your tree, it’s time to dig it. You have to be sure that you are digging twice or thrice the size of the width of the root ball. It also needs to be 1 to 2 inches deeper than the root ball’s size. This is ideal for the exposure of your tree.

6) Plant the tree

It’s time to plant the tree! After digging and making sure that the size of the hole and the tree’s root ball match, you can now put the tree in the hole but not too deep. Be mindful of the measurement earlier. It should only be 1 to 2 inches deep.

7) Avoiding transplant shock

That’s not where your transplanting ends. You also have to make sure that your tree is free from transplant shock. To do that, hydrating the roots is the first step. Although it’s already a new process, remember to water the soil and tree again.