Missouri Botanical 
Garden Bulletin 
Vol. V St. Louis, Mo., December, 1917 No. 12 
TRANSPLANTING TREES 
The increased knowledge of, and experience in, moving 
large trees has resulted in a large degree of success and safety, 
enabling the immediate production of effects in landscape 
plantings which otherwise could only be attained at the end 
of a long period of years. The appreciation of the effects 
thus rapidly produced has proven a strong stimulus in the 
development of this branch of horticulture, and at the present 
time many landscape gardeners and nurserymen are suc- 
cessfully moving trees 18-24 inches in diameter and 30-50 
feet high. In order to achieve the desired results emphasis 
must be laid upon possession of proper equipment, thorough 
knowledge of tree structure, its requirements, and time 
of moving of specific individuals, as well as provision for 
thorough drainage for the newly transplanted trees. 
Large trees are moved either by digging them with a large 
ball of earth in which many fibrous roots are contained or 
by loosening the majority of the roots to their full length 
and lifting the tree without any soil. The deciduous trees 
may be moved in either manner, but the evergreens can be 
transplanted successfully only by digging with a large ball, 
due to the fact that they are never actually dormant. The 
former are best moved during their dormant season, in the 
fall, winter, or spring, depending upon the different kinds. 
For an example, it is not advisable to move sweet-gum 
(Liquidambar Styraciflua), tulip tree (Liriodendron tuli- 
eh) various magnolias, holly ( Ilex opaca), bald cypress 
(Taxodium distichum), etc., in the fall or winter, because 
in order to thrive these trees must start new growth imme- 
diately upon transplanting. On the other hand, elms 
(Ulmus), maples (Acer), oaks (Quercus), ashes (Fraxinus) , 
ete., may be moved at any time during the dormant period. 
The evergreens may be moved either early in the spring or 
early in the fall, though successful transplanting has been 
accomplished at other times of the year. In fact, with great 
and painstaking care both the deciduous trees and the ever- 
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