Basically, you can transplant oak trees naturally. With young trees, moving is relatively unproblematic. Older oaks, on the other hand, should only be planted in a different location if it really cannot be avoided.
How to properly transplant an oak tree?
To successfully transplant an oak tree, it should be done in the fall. Prepare a sufficiently large planting hole, carefully dig up the oak tree with the root ball intact and plant it in the new hole. Then pour well and support if necessary.
Transplanting young oak trees
- Dig a new planting hole
- Improve potting soil
- Dig up the oak generously
- Plant with an undamaged root ball
- Water well
The best time to transplant
You should only transplant oak trees in the fall. Over the winter the trees then have time to develop new fine roots.
Prepare the planting hole
Prepare the new planting hole. Cut out a circle that is slightly larger than the top of the tree. Then the root ball has enough space. Loosen the soil deeply.
Refine the soil for the planting hole with a little mature compost. It has proven to be a good idea to mix in rotted leaf mold.
Dig up oak tree
Use a spade to dig up the soil around the tree in a radius equal to the circumference of the tree's crown. The underground root system is approximately the same size as the crown.
Dig up the oak tree as deep as possible. Be careful not to cut or bend the roots if possible.
The suction roots in particular must be dug out without being injured. They later ensure that the tree can absorb water and nutrients from the soil. If the root system is too badly damaged, the oak will die after transplanting.
Put the oak tree in the new planting hole
Place the root ball of the oak tree deep into the new planting hole so that the roots are well covered by soil. Make sure that the suction roots have enough space to penetrate the soil.
Tread the earth around the tree. In a windy location, you should anchor a few support stakes in the ground to tie the oak tree down. It then grows faster.
Water the transplanted oak tree well. The tree also needs additional moisture the following year until enough new suction roots have formed.
Tips & Tricks
Relocating an old oak tree can only be done with heavy equipment because of its weight. If the move cannot be avoided, you should hire a specialist company.