Question
I live in Sacramento county and have be offered 8 redwoods that are approximately 12-15 foot high that must be removed because they are too close to power lines,  When is the best time to remove them and how deep and wide will i need to go to give them the best chance to live?

Answer
All ages of evergreens, can be successfully moved only if a ball of soil is left around the roots. The exposed roots should be protected with moist burlap or newspaper or with polyethylene sheeting. Every effort should be made to reduce root exposure to wind and sun, keeping the ball as moist as possible. It's best to prepare the hole before digging up the tree you wish to move.

Size of the root ball and size of the hole:

The soil ball should be:

Width = 9-12 in. in diameter/every 1 in. of tree diameter
Depth = 6 in./every 1 in. of tree diameter

For example: A tree trunk 4 inches wide would need a soil ball of 36-48 inches wide and 24 inches deep.

Dig the new hole twice the size of the root ball and as deep. Fill with good potting soil and mulch with not more than 3 inches of mulch and water.

Evergreens should be moved early in the fall  so they have time to form new roots. They need at least 6 weeks before the ground freezes. In the spring, Evergreens can be planted up to 4 weeks after deciduous trees have opened their leaves, providing that the newly planted trees receive adequate water.