Rafed English

How To Transplant A Tree

“The trees are God's great alphabet, with them He writes in shining green, across the world His thoughts serene”. So go the lines made famous by American poet Leonora Speyer. The world we live in today is sprinkled with undue dosages of gargantuan and aesthetic buildings and not-so-gargantuan and not-so-aesthetic buildings. These buildings at times are a pleasure to look at, but no matter how good a building looks, it can never refurbish your psyche like a tree does. This is exactly why people are so attached to trees, nothwithstanding the kinds who ‘mow’ down forests. For the people for whom trees mean the world, there really is no separation from trees in spite of them having to move from place to place. This is made possible by what has come to be known as ‘the transplantation of trees'. Transplantation of trees basically refers to the moving of trees from one place to the other. Make your move and read on to gain access to tips on transplanting trees.

Transplanting Tree

  • The first thing to remember and put into practice when transplanting trees is to initiate the procedure or process during fall. This is mainly because dormancy begins in the fall and plants remain dormant until the arrival of spring. It is the dormancy in plants that make fall the best time to transplant a tree.
  • For best results, root the chosen plant at least a year before you decide to move it. To fulfill this objective, use a sharp spade and dig a trench around the plant. The trench should be just about two feet deep and just as wide as the spade. The reason behind digging the trench lies in the fact that the digging actually results in the severance of the roots.
  • The trench that you dug should be filled with sphagnum moss. It is the moss that will help form a compact root system inside the trench that will ultimately help the plant withstand better the ‘transplantation’.
  • Most people prune the plant/tree a few days or even hours prior to its moving. This is a wrong practice and can have critical effects on the whole process. It is always best and safe to prune a plant several weeks ahead of its transplantation.
  • When you are just about ready to shift the plant, dig a circle-like trench from a distance that sums up to at least a foot away from the crown. Make it a point to separate a ball of earth that includes the roots of the tree while simultaneously digging the trench at least two feet deep.
  • The earth that includes the roots should be handled with care, just like you would handle an expensive crockery. You have to ensure that the earth that includes the roots is loose and can be easily lifted out of the trench. For easy maneuvering, you can use a board for leverage.
  • The best way to transport the balls of soil is to place it on a piece of burlap and wrap the burlap around the soil. Wrapping the burlap around the soil will prevent it from crumbling.
  • The burlap and the soil with the roots should be placed in a spot that helps protect it from the heat of the sun and strong winds.
  • Don’t plant the plant right after its extraction from the soil. Wait for at least a period of two weeks before replanting it in the location of choice. During the two weeks, keep the plant in a sheltered spot and water it with care and caution just to keep the soil moist.

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