Transplanting Large Trees

[budcampo]

I've been looking on the internet to find advice for transplanting large trees, but can't find much. Any suggestions on where to look. I've got a friend with a crane, and I've got a backhoe that I could trench around trees with.
I'd like to transplant a couple to put in my yard and then if it goes smooth maybe get a job or 2 doing it, but I don't want to go to all the trouble and kill the tree:bang:
I live in CA on the coast, and possible trees would be Monterey Cyprus, Coastal Live Oak, Sycamore, Redwood, and possibly Montery Pine, but the pines around here all have disease.
Thanks in advance!:biggrinbounce2:

 

[The Count]

pffff. is it really necessary ?

usually you can buy big trees, but they are kept trimmed, body and roots. and the roots are kept together with a wire net.

there must be a ratio between the crown and roots. if the tree is huge, you either try taking tons of dirt and roots or trim.

since you can`t take all the roots, you trim the limbs.
I wouldn`t assume such task but if you must, do what you can do best.
after that use auxin (hormone that helps with roots) and foliar fertilizer. ask a local dealer of such products for advice.
water it, maybe if too hot improvise some shade to prevent over loss of water since the roots are compromised...
auxin may (and I think should) be applied on the root tips before replanting.

 

[Thillmaine1]

how big you looking to move? I have moved some 12 ibches before...Its all about there location, and how far they have to be moved andif they will fit ona tractor trailer..

 

[flushcut]

Your best bet is to talk to a nursery and watch how they do it on small trees and up scale their technique to big trees. Watch in particular how the hand dig and ball the roots. Moving a large tree gets heavy and very expensive fast! I read an article a few years back about a development company spending $300,000 to move a 275 ton, 200 year old oak 100 yards. It was a massive under taking, I almost want to say the move was handled by Davey Tree but I could be wrong. I would avoid using a crane and transport/lift by the ball. Your best bet is to keep the ball tight with burlap and lots of chain. Good luck

 

[jefflovstrom]

I would call 'Big Trees of California'.
Jeff

 

[budcampo]

I've checked out Big trees of CA and a couple other companies like that, but the goal was not to spend the money since I could possibly do it myself.

I think I have the concept of digging the tree up and moving it, just looking for advice for the care aspect, like pruning roots maybe, or nutrients like one mentioned above.
Also, when looking at these tree moving companies, some use wood boxes, and others use some type of plastic wrap, like maybe a whole bunch of saran wrap, but I don't know?
I would figure that there is a period of time that the tree would need to by secured by ropes until the root ball was established in the new location... this is kind of what I was looking for... any advice would be great, thanks!