Large Tree Moving

Introducing large trees into a new landscape can lend the project instant beauty and scale.

We were once asked by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, landscape architects, to relocate five large sugar maples which were growing too close together at Phillips Exeter Academy.

The 30-foot tall trees had been in place for 10 years and were to be relocated to the large lawn area in front of Kahn Library.

We determined winter was the best time to move them and that the frozen root ball method would yield the best results.

In the fall, we mulched the trees to prevent the soil ball from freezing before we wanted it to. When we had a stretch of appropriate weather, we dug up the trees, hand-crafted the root balls and laced them up with burlap and twine. Frost was then allowed to enter the outer six-inches of the root ball to facilitate handling.

We relocated the trees to carefully measured, pre-dug holes with a front-end loader. Soil was placed around the root balls and layered in a protective blanket of wood chips.
That spring each tree came into full and beautiful leaf.

There are a several techniques for moving large trees, but doing so successfully takes an uncommon level of skill and experience.

Should the need arise on your property, we would be pleased to help you, from planning through execution.