i wouldnt bother trying to move a tree with a 4.5 inch diameter trunk ... imo.. short of a tree spade.. you just wont be able to get enough roots to give the transplant a fair try ....

do not stress the begeebees out of your tree now.. cutting off most of its roots ....and then again when you move it.. this is very old school ... and not really recommended anymore ...

when the time is proper .. do it all at once ...

the proper time would be in dormancy... but at least 6 to 8 weeks before it should leaf out ... to give the roots time to get pumping again.. to support the leaves that appear ...

there is oak wilt issues.. though i dont know if that applies to you ... perhaps discuss with your county extension office to find out ... well go figure.. a buck nut site .. not hard to imagine since its your state Ag college.. eh .???

figure out if transplanting is a concern ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=oak+wilt+OH&t=ffcm&ia=web

ken

good primer: https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub

Same. Oaks get big, and one that is only 4’ tall is a twig.

Diameter is straight across, circumference is all the way around. A four foot tall tree is likely to have a 5 inch circumference and a 2 inch diameter (roughly speaking, I didn't do the exact math).

I'd certainly transplant a tree that size (four foot tall). Don't worry overmuch about a tap root, the tree is probably starting to depend on spreading its root system outwards, not downwards. You're on the right track to shovel-prune a few of its roots now, water it well this summer, then dig it out in fall. My very rough guess is you'd have a rootball 2 foot wide, 12 to 18 inches deep -- and that's a generous estimate.

Good luck!

I too question the 4 inches in diameter and 4 foot tall tree, However it it was 4 inches in circumference that would mean the trunk was a little over 1 inches in diameter, which would be about right for a 4 foot tall tree. Circumference is the diameter times PI (3.14..........) or the or one third the circumference for government work.

If it was 1 inch in diameter, then I would take a root ball about 12 inches in diameter, and about 12 inches deep.

It if is 4 foot tall and 4 inches in diameter, I would buy a new tree and cut the old one down, as it will never amount to anything.

I meant circumference. Seems like the job should be doable with hand tools. Thanks guys.

One comment: Don't forget having something to transport it with, when you are assembling tools for the transplant. Once you get the tree out of the ground you will probably have a piece of earth that is not very cohesive.

You could put it on a piece of plywood, or do as I have done use a scoop shovel. (Coal shovel in old terms.) If you have a garden cart, or trailer of a lawn tractor you may be able to get it into it.

If the move is a short distance, they you may get away with pulling it on a tarp.

That’s a good idea. It’s going to the other side of the yard, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.

timing is very important ...

dig the new hole first .... at least partially ...

ken

Well I guess we know who slept through 4th grade math. 😴🥱🤔