[CANUFNET] How big a tree can be moved? (Without killing it that is)

[For Trees Company Ltd.]

David,
The "rule of thumb" for tree moving is to transplant a tree successfully, a rootball 10 to 12 times the diameter of the tree measured 6 to 12 inches above the root flare must be moved with the tree. Hence, 4" diameter tree requires about a 44" or larger rootball, 48" being ideal, or a 40" minimum. The largest treespades that can fit on a truck are 90 inches, therefore, one should not attempt to move any tree larger than about 8 or 9 inches at the narrowest part above the root flare. Larger machines are sometimes available on semi-trailers, up to 128 inches, and I have heard of large earth-moving equipment with 144 inch spades, but such machines are exceedingly rare, and quite costly to operate, costing well into the 3 and 4 hundred thousands of dollars to manufacture, minus the power unit. Road clearances and road loading restrictions are often serious impediments to moving the very large trees. Of course, in the tropics, large, 200 tonne weeping fig trees are "routinely" moved in places like Australia, but a lot of pre and post care is required, along with three or four computer linked 100 tonne cranes. In Canada, standards for tree transplanting are available from the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association.
Gerard Fournier, BCMA  
----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David Stevenson 
  To: canufnet at list.web.net 
  Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2008 6:37 AM
  Subject: [CANUFNET] How big a tree can be moved? (Without killing it that is)


  Hello All,

  I have been receiving conflicting information about the size of tree that can be successfully moved with a tree spade. I have heard anywhere from 18" dbh (from a contractor who wants to move the trees) to 5" dbh (from a developer who doesn't want to pay to move them). While there is no point in moving trees that are going to just give up the ghost, there must be some diameter above which the success rate drops off unacceptably. Just wondering if anyone has any experience in the matter.

  The trees in question are predominantly Colorado Blue Spruce planted ~20 years ago from nursery stock. They range in dbh from 7-11" and 5-7m in height.

  Does anyone have any information about the successful moving of large caliper trees or know of anyone or anywhere I can find this information? 

  Cheers,


  David Stevenson, MScF, RPF

  Consulting Forester,

  KBM Forestry Consultants Inc.

  807 345-5445 x239





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