Transplanting Mature Trees: An Untapped Opportunity for Business!

Tree transplantation is a thriving business in Europe. Seize the opportunity to enter this market first in your region!

Nothing beautifies a yard like a tree! Planting saplings brings beauty and homely comfort, but it takes years, even decades to fully enjoy their charm.

This explains the increasing popularity of transplanting mature trees. Tree transplanters effortlessly dig up and replant fairly mature trees aged 10-20 years. It only takes a few hours to green up a private yard or a small area. This opportunity is truly appealing!

Below are the reasons for transplanting mature trees:

• To prevent cutting down a tree due to construction, road expansion, or other developments;
• To change landscape design;
• Landscape design professionals use tree transplanters to create an "instant landscape."

There is a wide variety of tree transplanters. The main difference lies in the size of the root ball being dug up. Our company produces equipment with optimal dimensions – a root ball diameter of 1.1 meters and height of 0.9 meters. These parameters allow for attachment to a relatively small loader weighing around 6 tons. The transplanter has 4 spades that sequentially dig into the soil and trim the tree roots. The tractor's weight and power are crucial. For our equipment, we recommend a tractor (front-end loader) weighing at least 5 tons with a lifting capacity of 2.3 tons.

Trees can be transplanted at any time as long as the ground is not frozen. Coniferous species like fir and pine are best transplanted in early spring or early fall. However, they can still thrive when transplanted in the summer. Avoid transplanting (and transporting trees) long distances in hot weather. On such days, we recommend spraying the excavated trees and moistening the root ball to reduce water loss.

The ideal time to transplant deciduous trees is early spring, before leaf emergence. There are exceptions; for example, birch should not be transplanted until buds have opened.

Some trees, like mountain ash, should not be transplanted once they have matured.

There are differences between nursery-grown trees and wild-sourced trees. Nursery-grown trees adapt better because they have already undergone root system pruning. Early root pruning promotes tree vitality and growth.

Soil type also plays a crucial role in transplantation. Soil structure - clay, sand, loam, etc. - influences root expansion and penetration. Roots typically extend beyond the tree's canopy. Soil density affects the root ball's size. Trees grown in sandy soil have a more sprawling root system.

Design

Design: Proper tree placement is vital for landscape design. When selecting a planting spot, ensure the tree's future growth won't interfere with power lines, snow clearance, or obstruct views from windows, etc.

Soil

Soil: Ideally, the new soil type should match the original soil where the tree was excavated from.

Staking

Staking: an important measure for supporting the tree's root system. Since the roots of transplanted trees are not firmly established yet, stakes should be used to support the tree for several weeks.

Irrigation

Irrigation: Newly planted trees with limited root systems require high-quality and regular watering, especially during dry periods, to reduce water stress. Prolonged drought makes trees vulnerable to pests and diseases. Additionally, poorly drained soils create anaerobic conditions around the roots, leading to root damage.

Water transplanted trees slowly, saturating the soil to the full planting depth. One effective method is creating a berm around the tree and filling it with water as needed. This reservoir will hold large amounts of water, allowing for gradual soil saturation without erosion. This method works well for trees watered using mobile containers.

Generally, watering is required weekly for the first month and twice a month during the rest of the initial growing season. Watering should continue as needed for 2-3 seasons post-transplant. Regular and thorough watering is essential until the soil freezes.

Mulching

Mulching transplanted trees and shrubs is beneficial. Here are the primary advantages:

• More consistent soil temperature
• Reduced soil erosion
• Less competition with weeds
• Improved moisture retention
• Reduced trunk damage from trimmers

Mulch can be made of wood bark, straw, sawdust, or leaves. Apply mulch to a height of 15-25 cm.

Remove the berm and mulch after the first season. Also, clear the tree's root flare from mulch to prevent damage from decay, as this is a vital part of the tree.

Transplanting Process

1. The transplanter is attached to the tractor using special connectors.
2. The hydraulic system is connected (two hydraulic hoses, quick-release couplings).
3. A location is chosen for tree planting. The tractor lowers and presses the transplanter into the ground.
4. The operator sequentially lowers the spades into the ground.
5. The root ball is lifted by the tractor's main attachment and removed from the area.
6. Subsequently, the tractor approaches the tree to be transplanted and repeats the operation.

Root pruning and root ball extraction take 1 to 3 minutes. If needed, the tree is lifted into the back of a commercial vehicle for transport, where it is placed in a basket with burlap.

For more details, visit the Transplanters website.

Equipment cost: $6,600.