When trees are only a year or two old, they can be transplanted with a high chance of success. Whether you obtain a sapling from a local nursery or you have dug one up from one location and wish to plant it in another, it's important to realize that the act of replanting such a tree is not quite as simple as just sticking it in the ground. Throughout the process, you'll want to avoid these mistakes, which can threaten the life of the tree or inhibit its future growth.
Mistake #1: Digging too narrow a hole.
The roots of the young tree have an easier time expanding through looser soil than through hard, compact soil. If you dig too narrow a hole, the roots will be forced to grow into the hard surrounding soil quite soon after planting, which will put strain on the tree and perhaps even inhibit its survival. Aim to dig a hole that's about twice as wide as the tree's root ball. This way, the roots have plenty of soft soil to grow through while the tree is first getting re-established. By the time the roots reach the harder surrounding soil, the tree will be bigger, stronger, and more up to the challenge.
Mistake #2: Piling dirt (or mulch) up against the trunk.
If you push soil or mulch up too far around the tree's trunk, this will trap moisture near the trunk and cause it to rot away. When you fill in the hole the tree is placed in, only put the soil up as high as the "ball" where the roots meet the trunk. If you choose to mulch around the tree, start your mulch circle a few inches out away from the tree's trunk so the mulch does not come into contact with the trunk at all.
Mistake #3: Overwatering.
Yes, you want to water the tree in after you plant it, and you want to keep the soil moist while the tree is young and still establishing roots. But you never want to completely soak the soil. Small, young tree roots are quite easy to drown, and too much water can also cause them to rot. Get into the habit of picking up a handful of soil from beneath the tree before you water it. If the soil is moist and still clumps together in your hand, you don't need to water that day. If the soil is loose and falls between your fingers, you need to water.
If you avoid the mistakes above, you'll have a greater chance of success when transplanting any young tree.
For tree transplanting, contact a company such as Gold Creek Tree Farms, Ltd.
