Moving 15-Foot Arborvitae 3–4 Feet: DIY vs. Tree Spade

Two Options

DIY: Dig largest possible root balls. Use root stimulator (Bio-Pak Plus). Water copiously. Extremely heavy—root balls weigh hundreds of pounds.
Hire tree spade service: Machine digs 90% of roots intact. Company assumes survival liability. Best for 20 large specimens.

Fall or early spring dormancy is best. Summer moves risk death.

Shrubs: Transplanting Trees and Shrubs: Timing and Technique; Moving 20-Year Walmart Roses 35 Miles: Heeling In and Transplant Protocol; Transplanting Maui Ixoras in North Florida: Timing and Technique; Transplanting Roses, Pieris, Hydrangeas, Bulbs: A Master Class in Container Moves; Transplanting Iris in Summer Heat: Immediate Planting vs. Fall Delay; Transplanting Clematis in Fall: Tips for a Successful Move to Kentucky; Transplanting Lilacs in Prince George, BC with -5°C Nights; Transplanting Blue Rug Juniper & Crape Myrtle in Atlanta: Wait for Fall; Transplanting Mature Hollies in Summer: High Risk, Better to Wait; Winter Protection for Storm-Damaged Arborvitae: Tying and Wrapping

Garden Articles

Plants