Pruning before transplanting?

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I'm looking for a little input from the arborists, tree experts ...or even just some who know more about trees than I.

The gas company is running new lines down our street. They expect that they’ll need to dig up two trees in front of our house. One is some sort of a Tree lilac (possibly 'Snowdance' Japanese Tree Lilac or similar) the other, a crab apple.

The trunk base of the Lilac is about 5 inches, the crabapple, 3-4”. As these were already fair-sized, nursery grown, balled-and-burlapped trees when planted, I’m guessing the root ball is not as large as it might be had they been started here. The gas company says we might be able to set the trees aside (possibly, for up to several weeks) until the work is done, new pavement laid, etc. then attempt to replant.

I guess trees are typically sacrificed in these situations and it’s likely they may be lost but I’d like to attempt to save them, if possible. Similar to the way, when propagating from cuttings, one removes all fruits, flowers, unnecessary branching etc. so that all the plants resources go toward rooting, will (perhaps severely) pruning these, making them much smaller and a more easily managed tree, increase their chances of surviving the uprooting and transplant or, to the contrary, would pruning cause excessive transpiration and even more stress as their resources go toward healing damage at both ends?

In a nutshell, whatever their chances are of surviving the transplant, would they be increased or decreased by pruning?

If the former (which I suspect), can I assume that pruning sooner, allowing some time to recover, would be better than later, nearer the time of the uprooting?

As usual, thanks for any help.

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

9 years ago

Their chances for survival if dug now would be decreased by pruning. Root growth at this time of year is governed by photosynthesis and if foliage is removed - even in part - by pruning, it reduces the tree's ability to generate the energy required to regenerate a damaged or impaired root system.

If you want to do anything to promote their recovery after being dug and replanted (which at this time of year is iffy at best), I might consider root pruning or slicing down through the root system with a sharpened garden spade at a distance of about 18" away from the trunk for the full circumference. This encourages the development of the fine feeder roots within this circumference that supply the bulk of the water and nutrients necessary. Normally, this would be done at least 6 months prior to the transplant but if you have a few weeks available before the power crew comes through, you may get some response.

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Comments (7)

(ryanga7a) Ryan M
9 years ago
Agreed with gardengal, that is the best approach, but it's a really bad time of year to move the tree and it may die anyways (or take a while to recover.)

Can you get them to replace the trees with a tree of equal value? In my area, whatever the gas or electric company digs up, they have to replace. It may be a line item in their budget, but they don't want to let you know that. Something worth asking about. They may also be able to start somewhere else (either in someone else's yard, the other end of the nieghborhood, or a different neighborhood) depending on the gas lines and their overall schedule. They deal with this sort of stuff all the time and may be able to work with you within their project constraints.
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(ryanga7a) Ryan M
9 years ago
(My sister's husband's parents just went through the gas line replacement ordeal in their neighborhood, maybe 5 months ago, and got a lot of leeway. But they were at a junction so there was a lot of digging and re-digging required in their yard.)
ActionClaw (Northern Ohio zone:5a/5b)
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for your (very prompt!) response. What you say makes sense … more so, under ideal conditions.
I am familiar with the root pruning to which you refer but, due to the type of soil, the limitations of the tools I have access to, etc. it probably wouldn't have been feasible anyway. Plus, as you say, this should been done much further in advance. The week or so that I have, I’m sure, would make no difference at all. The whole situation could (and, I feel should) have been handled better. The Gas Company gave us zero notice; they just showed up & began work. There are others in the neighborhood that just put in entire new flower gardens, only days ago, right where they propose digging!

This will not be a “tree transplanting” with them “handling with care” but, rather, viewed by excavator operators as mere “obstructions” to be moved out of the way as quickly as possible. I suppose my thinking is that branches will be broken regardless so it’s better that I control which ones, where and by how much …like creating a “firebreak”, sacrificing some trees to save the forest. Longer branches offer more leverage to cause worse damage.

As you say, the whole thing is very “iffy”. It’s the worst possible time of year to do it & the odds stacked against their survival etc. but it's out of my control; it will be done. If there's any consolation, I guess this is a "got nothing to lose" proposition so I can just do what seems right and hope for the best.

Rerouting the line is , I think, certainly not an option.
Having them pay to to replace the trees is something that crossed my mind that I haven't yet explored. I can’t help imagine that determining what “equal value” is regarding age, size, variety, etc. will be a nightmare. I’ll have to look into it.

Y’all‘ve given me some other options to consider.

Thanks!
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
im not in the camp of stressing the heck out of them thru root pruning.. and then a few weeks or months later.. restressing them by digging them up ... there will be no significant recovery unless you think in years ...

you need to think in tree time .. and with cutting off roots.. no tree is going to recover in a few weeks ... or months.. im thinking years ...

have them dug.. set in full shade.. figure out some way to cover the root soil .. and keep them dampish ...

ken
edlincoln
9 years ago
DON'T Prune. You are right that branches will likely be damaged...but we don't know which ones yet. It would be better to prune AFTER you know which branches are damaged.

A lot depends on where they are stored in the interim. Don't let the roots get exposed to sunlight or dry out. I might "heel them in"...in this case just place them out of the way and pile dirt around the root balls. Water them a little.
Embothrium
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Except for removal of damaged parts don't cut anything extra back, beyond whatever roots are cut by the lifting operation, now or later. Their existing leaves will very probably shrivel, best chance of getting the trees to come through is to be sure to keep them moist. Recovery will consist of sprouting new leaves and roots later. New leaves will be likely to appear this year, if re-planting occurs early enough in the growing season. New root growth, from cut root ends - where it tends to concentrate - won't be much until next spring.