Transplanting 15-Foot Leyland Cypress in South Central Pennsylvania

7–8 Leyland cypress (15+ ft, 5–6 ft apart) flanking driveway. Owner wants to move them. Ground not frozen.

Feasibility

Difficult but possible. Root ball requirements:

• Width: 9–12″ per inch trunk caliper
• Depth: 6″ per inch caliper
• Example: 4″ caliper → 36–48″ wide, 24″ deep ball

Equipment needed: tree spade or skilled crew with burlap/wire baskets. High cost.

Timing

• Fall: ≥6 weeks before freeze (likely too late if ground not frozen but winter imminent).
• Spring: better—after deciduous leaf-out, ≤4 weeks.

Protocol

• Pre-dig new holes (2× root ball).
• Protect roots: moist burlap, minimize exposure.
• Mulch 3″, water 1″/week, no fertilizer year one.

Survival drops sharply >8 ft. Consider professional arborist with tree spade.