White Pine transfer

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Maackia Eau Claire, WI May 08, 2006

My nephew wants to collect some WP from me to make a wind break/screen at his new house. I've got an area I've been thinning out where there are several 4-5' Pines that I will be removing as part of a thinning project for planting of trees and shrubs I'm collecting. Since I've got more White Pines than I know what to do with, I've never felt the need to transplant them. Do they move readily at this size? How large of a root ball would you recommend for the tree in the pic? It's about 5' from a 50' Bigtooth Aspen, and I suspect we'll hit some decent sized roots digging it. I've got hundreds of WP's growing wild out back, but it seems they're either quite small or way too big to move. I'm going to end up cutting these down, and I'd much rather have them be saved and put to use if possible.

Bob

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Soferdig Kalispell, MT(Zone 4b) May 08, 2006

Lots of work but I have moved these. Dig a 3 to 4' circle straight down and then in and under after you ID the roots. Then with a long bladed shovel Dig down and to the center using a rocking side to side to slice the deep roots. Do this every 6 to 8" around the tree and you can then B&B the root ball. Though I would not plan on a windbreak for your brother for another 10+ years. There are many other faster growing trees with more limb density. IE Aspen. http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/81288/index.html
These are 5 year old 15' trees (planted at 2'). Quite narrow, there are others that are wider.

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Resin Northumberland, United Kingdom(Zone 9a) May 08, 2006

I'd not attempt to move the one in the photo - its roots will be impossible to get out from the root system of that adjoining aspen (and you'll start a forest of aspen suckers too, which you may not want). Go for the smaller ones, they'll be a lot easier to move and will also establish more rapidly after moving.

Resin

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Linda_MT Kalispell, MT(Zone 4b) May 08, 2006

We moved a number of small conifers and some larger aspen over the winter. The conifers were trees that we would have cut anyway, and we had some spaces after we removed lots of old, decadent lodgepole pine. They all look good right now, but would you have any suggestions on additional care for them this year?

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Maackia Eau Claire, WI May 08, 2006

Sofer~That looks very nice. I'm not sure how effective it would be as a windbreak or visual screen, but certainly makes a statement as a phallic symbol.

Resin~I had a sneaking suspicion that trying to move trees this size and in close proximity to larger trees might not be a good idea. I'm surprised you didn't suggest I remove the Aspen and leave the Pine. ;) Actually, I'd like to see him take a few in the 5-6' range, with the majority made up of 1-2' trees. It would be interesting to see how the the larger trees responded and the time frame for the small trees to catch-up.

Thanks to all for the advice.

Bob

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