How To Move A Tree By Hand - Get Your Trees On The Move!

By Author: Steven Becker
Total Articles: 16
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So you want to get your trees on the move and you want to do it by by hand. Well, get ready to have some fun. Well, not really - but if done properly, it can be a rewarding experience. But first, make sure that you have the correct tools. A strong back, a sharp shovel, a pick axe, burlap, 2 ¼" long - 12 gauge pinning nails, and some 3 ply (untreated) Sisal Twine. This is similar to bailer twine but stronger, bailer twine won't work; it will break.

This article will not go into the details of how to actually drum lace (aka ball and burlap) the tree by hand, but I will provide you with a good free online resource that will provide some pictures into how to do the twisting and tying of the twine, as it can be a very complicated process for the beginner.

But before you start there are some things that you are going to need to know. Oak and Birch trees can ONLY be moved in the spring before the buds break. Evergreens such as Spruce and Pine Trees can ONLY be moved in the early spring before the buds break or after Late August or Early September, after the new growth has hardened off. Generally most ...
... other deciduous trees can be moved before the buds break in the spring or after the leaves start changing colors in the fall.

The other thing that you need to know is that your ball of dirt should be roughly a minimum of 10" for every 1" in truck diameter. So if your tree is 3" in diameter your rootball should be a minimum of 30" in diameter. Another thing that you are going to be aware of, is that a 20" inch rootball could weigh over 200lbs, a 36" inch ball of dirt could weigh more than 700lbs, a 50" rootball will weigh right around 2000lbs, and a 90" rootball will weigh about 10,000lbs. So it does not do you any good to spend the time digging out a tree that you are not going to be able to lift out of the hole or move. The depth of your rootball should be about 66% of the width. So if your rootball is 20" in diameter you should dig down minimally about 13". However, if you are digging a tree that has a taproot such as an Oak tree, you will want to dig down significantly further. Some trees transplant easier than others so it is important to learn a thing or two about the tree before you try to move it.

So the first step is to tie up any low branches that are going to get in the way of you digging around the tree. This is a problem with evergreens and not so much of a problem with deciduous trees.

The next step is to determine how big of a ball you are going to dig up. Then use the shovel to make a rough outline along the parameter of the area you are going to be digging.

Next, start using the shovel to start digging around the circle and use the pick axe to break through any roots or rocks that might get in your way. Dig straight down and then towards the deepest part of the hole, start digging inward slightly. You don't want to dig the bottom completely out. You will need to dig a trench about 12" - 24" inches wide depending on how deep you are going down, so you will have room to work when you are tying and pinning the burlap on.

Now if you have dug a full circle around the rootball to the depth that you need. The fun begins, now is the process of putting the burlap around the rootball and tying and twisting sisal twine around the ball of dirt and burlap to create a nice tight rootball. The idea is to get it very tight around the rootball so when you lift up to move the tree, no dirt falls out the bottom.

You can use the link below to find out the details on how to actually tie the twine around the rootball and burlap to make it tight enough so that you can safely move the tree.

The other option is if you want your trees on the move faster, you can call a professional tree mover. In this case they would use a large tree spade that is usually mounted on the back of a large truck and can dig your tree out in a matter of minutes.
I am a landscaper and tree mover in the Milwaukee Area; I serve areas from New Berlin to Cedarburg, and out past Waukesha - I have the equipment and experience to safely move your trees. I also have a Tree Nursery near Mequon, Wisconsin and have a large selection of Semi-Mature to Mature Trees. A complete inventory with pictures and pricing is available on my website.


You can get your Trees on the Move a lot faster by checking out my website and giving me a call.


To learn how to do the actual tying of the twine around the rootball and burlap study this tutorial about Tree Moving and Drum Lacing.


Best of Luck!