in my MI ... its perfect when the leaves of other trees start changing ... all trees nearing dormancy at that point... and conifers being trees ...

or right after ground thaw in april.. while all trees are still dormant .. and 6 to 8 weeks prior to them awakening ...

peeps tell me i am in a prime zone ... for either or ... so i hope you get more specific answers to your location ... but give us a big city ... as zone is rather ephemeral ...

you dont quite tell us if your ground freezes ... but you confuse me by saying the word THAW ...

ken

I am 50 miles north of louisville KY and 50 miles south of cincinnati OH. The ground does freeze and usually thaws out late march with the rain. I might go with the fall movement and hope it makes new roots over winter we have a better winter than we have had the last 2

Root growth of hardy trees and shrubs is minimal to non existent during the winter hibernation. If you want it to make new roots from cut root ends right after transplanting, move it in spring, before the overwintering buds at the tips of the stems start to open.

Spring.....! Agree 100% with Embothrium.