Transplanting White Pines ?

Hi, I have to transplant 6 Eastern White Pines. Live in S. Maine, zone 4/5 . They are 6 ft. high. When would be my optimum time ? I did 20 of them 6 yrs. ago in spring and they did fine. These will all have to be dug and are not bagged or potted. Digging is not a prob.. I would really like to do it now but dont want to hinder their chance of survival. Thanks, kdcon

I'd right now, drive a spade shovel at 4-6 equidistant points around the dripline of each, allow them to develop a more fibrous root system (as a result) and move them next spring while they're still dormant - and in your zone 4a zone, just do it while the soil is workable and when the plants are not actively growing, very important. Some will say mid April is perfect, but you'll have to watch and see what kind of weather is delivered to you. What you don't want to do is move them while they're actively growing, I'll repeat again.

That'll bring you 100% more 'luck' -being that there is such a 'plan'. In my opinion, you could simply move them now, however. that's plan B, and you're wantin to know what is 'best'.

Do your thing -

conifers

I agree with Dax 100%. My only caution might be this: you're up there on the tundra where the polar bears roam and the state tree is the icicle, so if you do it now (and you shouldn't wait too much longer) mulch the area deeply to postpone soil freezing so the roots can become established. You might also consider using an anti-dessicant spray.

Guy S.

I thought about that Guy, only to conclude that if moved now, this person should still have 90 days of fall weather, which too, is a figure used to give the trees enough time to acclimate from the move. I could be wrong though about this. Spring definitely now looks like the best time as priorly I added three months to today and came up with the month of November instead of December, so my mistake.

But yah, Guy is right on about mulching. I forget to mention that too often. At any rate, you shoud be more than fine if you should decide to move them now. Those (trees) are about as bullet proof as a tree can get. And the mulching should be done always when anything is "planted," including: transplants, potted, or bareroot.

conifers

Thanks for the input. Will move them now seeing as they would have a chance. Did not want to if it would be a total waste of time. Everything I plant gets mulched. I'm a strong beliver in that. Yeah the Polar Bears can be a pain but my "helper" takes care of them. Thanks again, kdcon

Is that a polar bear femur your helper is knawing?

Dax, see ya soon. What time do you plan to arrive? Are you still planning to camp at New Salem? Wanna join us in town for pizza Friday night? E-mail me at Guy@StarhillForest.com .

Guy S.