Transplanting Large Trees 



By C. E. Hunn, New York. 



The transplanting of small trees is a comparatively 

 easy operation, but when large trees are to bo moved it 

 is absolutely nece>sary to employ the ])rofcssional tree 

 mover, one who has the tools and the experience. The 

 latter is of as great im])ortance as the former. The mod- 

 ern tree moving machine, while of simple construction, 

 has many complications as to levers, chains and ro;]es. 



A TREK PL.WTKn :2 VK.SKS .\GQ. IX I KOCIiSS OF DEIXG 

 TIPPED OVER ON 'rRUCK TO P.E TRAXSPL.\NTEn. 



SO that an amateur would be hopelessly 

 puzzled in an attemjit to manijjulate it. 

 At least one man with a thorough 

 knowledge of the operation should be in 

 charge of the removal. 



Perhaps a brief statement regarding 

 the removal of ten large elms on the 

 grounds of the State College of Agricul- 

 ture at Cornell L'niversity, may be of in- 

 terest. The.se elms, set as young trees 

 twenty-two years ago, had made a very 

 thrifty growth and liad begun to crowd 

 each other. In the spring of 1912 it was 

 decided that each alternate tree would 

 have to be removed or cut down. In au 

 attempt to save them these alternate 

 trees (five in number) were root-pruned, 

 digging to the depth of si.x to eight feel, 

 cutting of¥ all roots, leaving a ball oi 

 earth and roots eight feet in diameter. 

 The soil was then thrown back into the 



trenches, tilling uj) to the former level. No check of 

 growth was apparent through the summer, and it was 

 ])lanned to attempt the removal of these root-pruned 

 trees through the following winter with a ball of frozen 

 soil as is often done witli younger and smaller trees, 

 r.efore this could be accomplished, however, it was found 

 that because of the location of a new building the entire 

 row of ten trees would have to be moved. It was then 

 determined to call in the services of a professional tree 

 mover. The moving of these trees was accomplishecl 

 during May of last Acar under the direction of the Land- 

 scape Art Department of the College. 



The removal of the trees wdiich had not been root- 

 liruned the previous season was a much more particular 

 and delicate operation than that of the prepared trees, 

 ."-^ince the liall had not formed it was necessary to dig the 

 soil away from the roots, saving all the fibrous roots 

 possible by using sjjading forks or blunted sticks in or- 

 der not to bruise the tender roots. As the bundles of 

 roots were exposed they were tied together and the end 

 of the cord fastened to the tree trunk to keep them out 

 of the way. .\fter all the roots possible were freed from 

 the soil the tree was attached to the moving truck and 

 gradually tipped over onto the truck l)y means of four 

 guide ropes and pulley blocks which were used both in 

 lowering and raising the trees. The roots were covered 

 Ii\ canvas to protect the delicate fibrous roots which 

 might be withered by exposure. The tree was then 

 ready to be moved to its new situation where the hole 

 had been previcnisly dug. The size and depth of these 

 holes varied according to whether the tree had been root 

 pruned or not and also on the character of the root svs- 

 tem. The trees were lowered into the holes and as the 

 earth was being packed around the base the bundles of 

 roots were held so as not to be buried too deeplv. Then 

 ihcy were carefully spread out and fine earth packed 

 around them, co\cring them to a depth of about four 

 inches. 



As fast as these trees w^ere set the soil around them 

 was soaked with water to settle and compact the dirt 

 around the roots; and as often as the soil appeared drv 

 through the summer, copious waterings were given. A 



*From Tree Talk, to which we nre also indebted ("r 

 illustrations. 



l.\o Mo\"l,l 



