Tree Transplanting Services
Our Tree Spades:
Outdoor Visions uses two different sizes of tree spade. Our largest spade can transplant trees with a maximum plug diameter of ninety inches, and this 90-inch spade can move trees with an average trunk diameter of seven inches. In contrast, our 50-inch spade can be used to transplant trees with an average trunk diameter of four inches, as well as plugs with a maximum diameter of fifty inches.
When to Transplant Trees With Outdoor Visions:
The best circumstances for transplanting trees with either of our spades are dry conditions during all seasons. One stipulation that may prevent us from moving a tree on a given day is moisture. Our tree spades are heavy enough that – were the moisture in the ground sufficient – there is a risk of our trucks becoming stuck with the combined weight of the spade and transplanted tree. Moving trees in rainy times can also be problematic because it may cause our trucks to tear up grass and tarnish lawns, which we always prefer to avoid doing.
Additionally, it is important to note that during winter, it is only possible to transplant trees when accumulated snowfall is at a minimum and the temperature is above 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Our spades use water as a lubricant to cut out earth plugs, and at temperatures just below freezing, it is not possible for us to adequately lubricate our spades. “Frozen ground” is not an obstacle that would prevent Outdoor Visions from moving a tree otherwise.
Mid spring to late summer is the most stressful time to transplant since at this time, trees are metabolically focused on putting on or replacing lost foliage for the coming year. For this reason, early autumn to early winter is the best time to move trees that have completed their reproductive cycle for the year and have begun to enter wintertime dormancy.
When is Tree Transplantation Preferable to Planting Saplings from Nurseries?
Outdoor Visions sometimes recommends tree transplantation over replanting nursery-grown saplings for multiple reasons. Firstly, trees that have been transplanted are most generally proven to not be “root-bound.” Root-bound is a condition that manifests when saplings are potted and allowed to grow for too long before replanting. When this happens, a sapling’s roots coil around the walls of its container and can lead to some problems later in the tree’s life. Such problems may include stunted growth, wilting, toppling over, or eventual death. Since most transplanted trees are not root-bound, moving a tree with one of our spades ensures that our customers are giving their trees the best chance of living to their fullest potential.
Secondly, transplanted trees are immediately able to filter noise, dust, and wind traveling through the perimeter of your property, unlike replanted nursery saplings. Densely transplanted trees can also provide privacy for your home and may also provide shelter for your local wildlife.
A final reason transplanting an adolescent tree may be preferable to replanting a sapling is because transplantation allows home owners to enjoy their trees nearer to their maturity without waiting decades for a sapling to grow to its eventual size.
Our Range of Operations:
Outdoor Visions moves trees in Central and Eastern Kansas, Western Missouri, Southern Iowa, and Southern Nebraska. Our radius for small, residential transplanting is 200 miles from Marysville, Kansas. For larger commercial jobs and contracts, Outdoor Visions can operate in a 300 mile radius from Marysville, Kansas.
