How to Transplant a Small Tree

Moving a small tree isn’t too complicated. A successful transplant, temporary or not, depends on having an intact root ball of sufficient size – about 11 times the trunk’s diameter. If the trunk is more than 3½ inches across, call in a professional landscaper because of the weight involved. Once the tree is dug up, its roots get wrapped in burlap and twine to hold the soil. The tree can then be transported and kept alive until replanting time.

To tie up the 18-inch-diameter ball shown above, we used a 42-by-42-inch piece of two-ply burlap and about 6 yards of sisal twine, both available at garden stores. Even for a tree this small, the work is much easier with two people. It’s important to tie the burlap and sisal tightly around the ball, but take care not to rub them against the trunk because you can easily damage the young tree’s delicate bark.

Properly swaddled and regularly watered, a tree will easily survive for months out of the ground, until you’re ready to plant it for good. Transplanting a small tree isn’t too complex. It’s much simpler than adding a new room to your home or relocating to a new country.

Follow the steps below to see how to transplant a tree successfully.

Step 1

Dig out the root ball

Before you start digging, tie up the tree’s branches with twine, working from the top down. This serves two purposes: it prevents branches from snapping while you work and gives you room to dig underneath the canopy without obstruction.

Use a spade to slice a circle in the ground around the tree that’s as deep as the blade and 11 times the trunk’s diameter. Outside this circle, dig a wide trench; keep digging until you stop encountering roots. Work the spade under the ball at a shallow angle until it’s free. Carefully slide the burlap under the ball, grasp the fabric, and lift the tree out of its hole.

Pro Tip: When cutting roots, technique matters. As This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook demonstrates, don’t dig inward and pull up—you’ll rip the roots you’re trying to save. Instead, “hold it straight up and down and try to cut all the roots straight down” before switching to a spade to dig the trench parallel to the ball, 12 to 18 inches deep.

Once the root ball is undercut and sitting on a pedestal of soil, be extremely careful: don’t step on the exposed pedestal or push on the trunk, as either will crumble and destroy the ball. Slide the burlap halfway under, tip the ball gently to the opposite side, then pull the fabric through so the entire root ball is cradled. Pin and tuck the burlap snugly, then secure it with sisal twine to hold everything together during transport.

Step 2

Wrap the roots

Position the root ball in the center of the burlap and gently lift its opposite corners. Use a square knot to tie the opposite sides together as tightly as you can next to the trunk. Do the same with the burlap’s other two free corners.

Once the corners are knotted, add a couple of lengths of sisal twine around the ball to help hold everything together. As Roger Cook explained during a This Old House transplanting project: “This next part of the process is critical. We’re gonna tie this whole root ball together so it doesn’t fall apart.” Use a series of jute ties looped around the trunk at the top and around the base of the ball at the bottom, then connect them with side straps pulled tight to keep the soil intact during transport.

Step 3

Truss the twine

Tie one end of twine loosely to the trunk, then wrap it vertically around the ball. Tilt the tree gently so that each loop passes under the ball’s bottom. Never wrap twine all the way around the trunk. When you’re done, the twine should be evenly spaced and no more than 6 inches apart at the ball’s widest spot.

Step 4

Tie and Replace

4. Tie and relocate

Tie the end of the twine to one of the vertical loops using a rolling-hitch knot (see Animated Knots). Only now is it safe to relocate the tree. You don’t want the root ball to dry out during its sojourn, so cover it with wood chips and water it thoroughly and regularly—about every other day in a warm weather.