OK, here's the oak tree I'm going to try to tackle to move this fall, soon maybe, since got over inch of rain yesterday. Probably will take some major soaking at the base of the tree, though, to get it moistened down more than a few inches.
I was way off on the width, I now realize. It's at least 8' wide, and was pretty close on the 10' tall. The trunk I measured at 5" in diameter at the very base. I know it's going to be a chore to move, and I sure don't want to lose it, but I think it will cause problems in years to come. It's too good of a tree to lose eventually, being a hardwood, so I will tackle the moving of it. Again, would only even attempt this since I have my tractor with loader to pull it out and move it. I will dig a really large hole, and like JW and her hubby did, stake it with "T" posts. I've asked at landscape places if they would do it for me, but they all say only if they sell the tree will they remove and transplant it. Oh well, I don't need to pay someone else to do what I KNOW I can do myself! I'll be helping a friend with a 9 month old baby do some transplanting today, so won't get started on it yet. But, probably will put it on my list of things to do next weekend. It will be an all day project, I'm sure! Guess I could dig the hole it will get placed in. Probably will need a hole 4' diameter, and really deep! Oak trees have tap roots. This one will likely get that damages, but if I make sure there is lots of loose dirt in the bottom, it should recover ... at least that's my hope. And, a friend showed me once that if when you dig a hole, you use your shovel sideways and cut slices in the side of the hole, where the dirt is usually really packed, that helps the roots push into that area, and grow outward once they are growing again. :blueflower:
