start digging.. big ball of roots and soil ... put in full shade ... or in plastic grocery bags ... in shade

get a load of mulch if you wish.. and bury the root balls ...

i would start with the most precious .... and as time dictates.. move all of them ... if you run out of time .. so be it with the carp hosta ...

yipppeee do ... another willow bites the dust.. the only thing that could have made me happier.. was if it was a maple.. and i am talking from the point of a hosta grower.. not a tree grower ...

you ought to have a ton of free mulch when it is all done .... dont let them drive away with it ...

ken

ps: or just put them on the driveway .... they are hosta ya know ...

I agree with Ken. In the long run the hosta will be happier.

I had to dig up a garden once. I placed some of the larger hosta in sturdy boxes I gathered from a local liquor store because I didn't have enough large posts. They held together for a week while I was working. I was able to improve the soil and the design. The soil may be depleted of nutrients by the large tree. A good dose of compost would correct that.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

Beverly

She can't just cover them with those white cones they use for winter cover? For sure moving them is safest..at this point it won't be so noticeable once they leaf out...do you have an idea as to what you will do with them after the SHADE tree is gone?

"...She can't just cover them with those white cones they use for winter cover?..."

Branches falling on cones busting them, branches drug out knocking them over, workers knocking them over. Then there will be squashed plants and a mess of busted up styrofoam. Best to move what can be moved.

tj

Arcy.... sure, she COULD cover them, but speaking from the perspective of someone who has recently had a tree removed, those styrofoam cones aren't going to do diddly for keeping a 100+ pound branch from doing damage. Even small branches weigh a LOT! It might minimize damage, but it's not going to stop it.

I'm with Ken... Dig up the ones you want to preserve. But I think even if they're trampled/squashed, they'll still come back next year.

Ok, now the obvious question.... anyway you can delay the work till the ground is frozen?

Andi-Been there, done that! Now, none of mine were expensive (lancifolia) but I did move every single one of them-you'll be able to move them back fairly quickly, right? I taped up the leaves, dug them up, and let them just sit in the shade for the day we were working on the yard, then I transplanted them and watered the heck out of them. I don't think they knew the difference! I did leave the tape on until it came of on its own. I've got to thank Ken for this idea! Good luck !!!

Been there, done that. The workers will be busy doing their jobs, not looking out for the plants.
If you dig any, make sure you tell the tree people workers that there are holes. You don't want anyone breaking an ankle or anything.
Also, I would only dig the absolutely most valuable, disinfect between plants, make sure your markers stay with the plants. If any plants have markers left in the ground, you might want to do a map. It's amazing how the markers disappear when workers are in the garden and people who don't give squat about your plants are in and around the garden.

yeah .... were is that moving marion bachman post.. but for removing the soil from the roots .. tape them up.. and drag them away ...

link below.. that poster is a genius.. lol ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

So, what will you do then after that big shade spreading willow is gone? You probably will not be able to plant a new shade tree of same size in the same spot. You will probably also not place the just saved hostas in full sun now?
Bernd

What kind of tape?
Deanna

did you miss the link deanna??

masking tape ...

ken