Water your tree a day or two before you remove it from the container (you want the growing mix to be moist but not so wet that you are paying for extra shipping). Then wrap the root ball in moist newspaper/paper towel followed by a plastic wrap. Since it has already broken dormancy, do not ship bare-rooted. Find a box or tube that is as close to the size of the root ball as possible. If it is slightly smaller than the root ball, remove just enough of the growing mix so it fits snuggly then wrap.

Cut a piece of cardboard 2-3" wide and as long as the box you are shipping is less the height of your root ball. Fold the piece of cardboard in half lengthwise. When putting it in the box or tube (whichever you use), slide it in roots first. Once the roots are in the box, slide the cardboard piece around the trunk of the tree and push the rest of the tree into the box. The cardboard piece you made should be snug against the top of the box when you close it. Seal the box and you are ready to ship.

If your tree has many branches that prevent you from using the extra cardboard piece as described, make two of them and put them in the corners. Make sure they are wide enough to sit on the root ball. Keeping the root ball in place is crucial.

I have shipped (as well as checked in baggage) trees up to three gallons in lamp boxes using this techniqe.

~james

James,
Thanks for your how to ship info. I plan on shipping the tree Monday. I'm sure it will make the trip okay.