Start with a three foot diameter ball, excess soil can always be shaved off prior to moving, but the important thing is to make certain the ball doesn't crap out, fall apart, when you are digging underneath to cut the roots. Don't rely on the stem to rock the tree. Depending on the soil you might want to moisten it two days before, if clay soil, it will be easier digging. You may want to prune it back some so it doesn't go into shock when it does start budding out. It will be heavy lifting to get it out of the hole so you could use as many hands as possible. See if you can borrow a tree dolly at a local nursery.

Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials

if the soil is thawed.. should be about the perfect time to do this in z6 .... sooner the better ...

BUT.. if you can buy a new potted one at the bigboxstore for 20 bucks.. i might consider avoiding the backbreaking day long labor of moving this large a tree ..

a 3 foot root ball can easily get upwards of a couple hundreds of pounds ... are you physically able to move that ... digging is the easy part of making a rootball... moving it is another ball game ...

up to you ..

ken

Ken, I didn't realize that it would be that heavy, but I did have some helping hands ready to go when neede.

Bullthistle, I thought about getting another tree but my kids gave me this one for Mother's Day. And if I do get another tree, what do I do with this one? Killing it wouldn't work for me.

I will have to rethink this whole thing.

Thanks

It depends on where you have room to re-locate it. It will take a sunny location or even partial shade. I said to start a three foot diameter hole, but you could probably shave it back to 2 feet in diameter, after it is balled, dig it larger in case part of it craps out, but still more than you can handle. Try to get a ball cart and lay 2X6's into the hole and push it up. Have beers at the ready.

Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials

LOL about the beer. The spot that I want to relocate it to is about10 feet away from it's currant location. I know it sounds like alot of work for such a short distance but I'm afraid it might be to close to the house once the addition is complete. It is located in full sun and if/when moved will still get full sun. This will be the biggest tree on the property when it grows enough. All other trees are small or standars. I have a small lot and I am trying to fit in as much as possible in the way of trees and shrubs.

Thanks

Make certain once it's moved that you have it blocked from the construction people. you don't want to go through all the grunting and growning to have someone drop a 2x8 on it and strip it of its branches.

Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials