moving 16 ft. norway

12 years ago

Some years ago, I had 2 black hills spruce delivered to plant behind the shed.
They mixed up the delivery ,and one was a Norway,not noticing this until after planting.
I knew I would eventually have to move it. About 6 years ago I did it.
It took 2 full weekends of digging,burlaping,tying...8 ft. hole, plus a ramp out.
I rented a chain, pulled the truck in the back yard,put a sheet of steel behind the root ball.
Well that baby slid right up the ramp and across the yard and into the new hole standing up all the way.
Saving grace- the wire basket was still intact and I saved as many roots as possible rather than shearing them off.
Early summer.....fill up hole half with soil...water..repeat.
weekly watering....almost no stress or browning..Success !
ron

This post was edited by plantkiller.il.5 on Wed, Dec 3, 14 at 21:16

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Comments (10)

plantkiller_il_5
Original Author
12 years ago
To make up for the mistake I got half off on nice weeping purple beech from garden center.
plantkiller_il_5
Original Author
12 years ago
ron
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plantkiller_il_5
Original Author
12 years ago
I didn't measure it until after planting....16 ft........WHAT
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
12 years ago
Nice afternoon of work. I am signed up to move some burning bushes with a neighbor this fall. Hopefully goes as well.

So that wire was there after 6 years? I know it came in handy in this situation but it can't be helping the tree or trees in general. I'm going to quote this in other threads about "professional" planters.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
boy.. you sure work hard ... and good for you ...

i would look at that and say.. i can buy a one footer for a buck.. and i would have skipped all the hard work ... lol

regardless ... two green thumbs up ...

ken

ps: the real question is.. would you do it again ... or is that $10 two footer.. looking easier and easier.. lol ..
alley_cat_gw_7b
12 years ago
Ron , My hats off to you. You tackled a big one and it looks like you did a damn good job of it! That size aint no joke.
I would have hired a tree spade or purchased a 6 footer. You did it the ole fashioned way!

Al
plantkiller_il_5
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the nice follow-ups.
2 full weekends....wire baskets are made of 3/32 steel,made to last,but roots work their way out just fine,but cut off burlap.
Can't stand to waste a good plant,got some grief for spending 200 plus in the first place.........besides I'm Cheap
A little hard work never hurt bla,bla...Make no small plans...
Couple of years ago I moved 4ft. Helmond Pillar over 3ft. cause it didn't look right.
ron
mikebotann
12 years ago
You moved that Spruce in the summertime too!
Good job! You're hired.
Mike
plantkiller_il_5
Original Author
12 years ago
Oh,by the way,I planted those big bucks spruce behind the shed to shield the den entrance that I dug for the foxes before building the shed.
rewarded next spring with litter of kits ..5th one
not hard work....just goofing around in back yard
ron
Smivies (Ontario - 5b)
12 years ago
"wire baskets are made of 3/32 steel,made to last,but roots work their way out just fine"

That's not the problem with the wire baskets...it's when the tree is 30 years old and all the big roots are girdled by the wire basket. 'Landscapers' get away with it because nobody knows better and they've retired by the time it's a problem.

Steel takes forever to corrode in the ground...I still find 120 year old square nails around the yard.