Step-by-Step Guide to Transplanting Trees

May 9, 2015 | Gardening Tips

This is a great time of year for planting or transplanting trees (in-particular bare-rooted trees) in your yard.

Tree Transplanting Guide

Here’s the Perth Gardening step-by-step guide to transplanting trees to ensure they have a great start and the best possible chance to thrive.

1. Soak the tree roots in a bucket of water with about ½ cup of seaweed concentrate while you are preparing the planting hole.
2. Dig a hole approximately 1m across and 50-60cm deep the so roots can spread out as widely as possible. Try to keep the sides of the hole reasonably vertical. Put the removed topsoil in a pile next to the hole and mix through some compost or aged manure.
3. Push a wooden stake into the bottom of hole, slightly off-centre. For a large tree use two wooden stakes – one on either side of the hole. Partially backfill the hole with the topsoil mix making a small mound in the centre of the hole.
4. Cleanly prune off any damaged ends of the roots and shorten any extra-long roots to fit the hole.
5. Place the tree onto the mound of soil in the bottom of the hole. Spread the roots as widely as possible but avoid bending or curving any long roots as this can cause stunted growth. The roots should be just below soil level.
6. Backfill with the rest of the topsoil mix until the hole is fullshaking the tree as you go to ensure the soil filters down tree blue sky perth gardeningthrough the gaps between the roots. If you have used two wooden stakes, stretch a tree tie, rope or length of pantyhose between them in a figure 8 for a loose but firm fit.
7. Water deeply and add more topsoil mix if required. If attaching a label – attach it to the stake rather than the tree to avoid strangulation.
8. Prune the branches, removing any broken or weak branches and shorten the remainder by half. While this may seem severe it will help to achieve a healthier tree.