Advice on Pinon tree transplant

[TwistedSage]

I have a chance to go pick up a 12 year old 15 foot tall pinon tree for free, only thing is I have to dig it up. I jumped at the offer knowing how expensive mature trees are and I was already planning on getti g another pinon this fall when they go on discount in town.

If anyone has done this or has better knowledge of the pinon root systems, what can I expect? I know I am going to be digging a big a$$ hole. Any good distance from the trunk I should start at, any precautions? Should I avoid hacking any roots at all costs? Is this a reasonable to do with 2 guys shovels and picks or is a tractor likely to be needed?

Thanks

 

[Hummer]

You might be successful transplanting by hand but you might also waste your effort. For a pinon of that size I think you'd do well hiring a landscape company to remove and replant with a tree spade which can retain a large root ball. A nice tree could be worthwhile. Don't forget to locate water lines, etc.

 

[bobbydean]

I have planted many pinons, most in the 6 foot range. These do not have a massive root ball.

My advice is contact a pecan orchard and hire their transplant tractor. We had 10 pecan trees with root balls 6 foot in diameter. Much easier and much better chance of survival!

Just a thought. We have a ton of pecan orchards in Roswell. I would think Portales or Clovis would have some. That big of a tree, have an expert do it!

 

[TwistedSage]

Appreciate the advice, I will check into a quote for the transplant. I am going to check it out at lunch it's hard to get a good size perspective from the picture. I think its doable my buddy thinks I'm nuts.

 

[TwistedSage]

I have planted many pinons, most in the 6 foot range. These do not have a massive root ball.

My advice is contact a pecan orchard and hire their transplant tractor. We had 10 pecan trees with root balls 6 foot in diameter. Much easier and much better chance of survival!

Just a thought. We have a ton of pecan orchards in Roswell. I would think Portales or Clovis would have some. That big of a tree, have an expert do it!

There are some nice private orchards but none commercial that I know of, I am always amazed driving through Roswell, very impressive and unexpected for me at least the first few times.
I may stop at the nursery in town and ask them if they know of any good transplanters.

 

[TwistedSage]

Well not much for landscaping companies around here at least not with that kind of equipment. The closest would be Roswell or Lubbock. Hand power is about the only option. Im thinking it's closer to 12 foot or so. Gotta think about this one

 

[bobbydean]

The problem of bringing one from Lubbock or Roswell is they are basically tractors with special equipment. Cannot see it being feasible with the cost involved.

 

[hank4elk]

I transplanted some big trees. It took equip. & manpower. Big wooden planters that had to be dug in on 4 sides & bandit ed.
Paid for by county.

You'd be better of getting one from a nursery.
I have seen some success transplanting , with trees under 8 ft. Heard the 2-6 footers are the best.

 

[TwistedSage]

I transplanted some big trees. It took equip. & manpower. Big wooden planters that had to be dug in on 4 sides & bandit ed.
Paid for by county.

You'd be better of getting one from a nursery.
I have seen some success transplanting , with trees under 8 ft. Heard the 2-6 footers are the best.

Appreciate the first hand experience Hank. I picked up a nice potted 5 footer last fall and plan do do the same this year. I also need to get my act together and put in a order with the forestry division for the fall.

I've decided against it. I checked it out, it is a beautiful at least 15 ft tree. I called a local landscaping company to talk and for a quote. He did confirm there were no tree spades left in the area, and quoted me around 250 for 4 guys and a skid steer to get it onto a flatbed for me. Also cautioned against doing a transplant like this getting into the longer warmer days and that fall would be better for the tree to focus on root development. I'd hate to put out the effort or money for it to not make it.

Thanks everyone for the advice!

 

[hank4elk]

Cool.
I was thinking of getting some of the NMDF trees & saw the sale Fri.
Was looking for Narrow Leaf Cottonwood & Wild Plum or Cherry, Browse bushes for deer & elk.

 

[TwistedSage]

Yeah that's a pretty cool program they have. I've been looking at some of the wild life packages and definitely the windbreak packages. From talking to people around here that have done it they said you just gotta be ready when you get them and try to plant in a day or two most as many are bare root. They have a bigger selection for thier fall run as well.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

Appreciate the first hand experience Hank. I picked up a nice potted 5 footer last fall and plan do do the same this year. I also need to get my act together and put in a order with the forestry division for the fall.

I've decided against it. I checked it out, it is a beautiful at least 15 ft tree. I called a local landscaping company to talk and for a quote. He did confirm there were no tree spades left in the area, and quoted me around 250 for 4 guys and a skid steer to get it onto a flatbed for me. Also cautioned against doing a transplant like this getting into the longer warmer days and that fall would be better for the tree to focus on root development. I'd hate to put out the effort or money for it to not make it.

Thanks everyone for the advice!

My dad was a tree nut and translated something like 30 tree into our yard (we have every coniferous tree native to CO), I think the biggest tree he transplanted was a white fir that was 15-20ft. The logistics of getting those big trees in was kinda ridiculous and the root balls were way bigger than you would think. He always transplanted in the late fall.

 

[Phaseolus]

Wllm,

I agree that you are too late to transplant it this spring, once it gets hot it’s going to be very hard for such a large transplant to survive. Good luck, I lost 4 pinyons to Pinyon ips beetle last year, I got too lazy to spray them. I hate losing trees.

 

[Hummer]

Appreciate the advice, I will check into a quote for the transplant. I am going to check it out at lunch it's hard to get a good size perspective from the picture. I think its doable my buddy thinks I'm nuts.

There are tree spades that can transplant trees of that size but if there aren't any in your area you're sol. A few years ago I watched a crew with a small backhoe, skid loader and shovels move a similar big pine. It took them a week just to get it out of the ground. I don't know if it survived.

I've been a fruit grower on East Orchard Mesa for 25 years. I don't know of any orchardist who actually moves trees. It's not economical. They are planted as root stock 1-3 years old. In our wildlife shelter belt which runs 800 ft. long from the house to the orchard I have transplanted pinons up to 2 ft. high. They are slow growing but worthwhile as they attract bird species that wouldn't otherwise use the rural ag habitat.

Over the years I've added ~400 trees and shrubs to the wildlife shelter belt, most as root stock from the state forest service program. All are berry or nut producing aimed to attract wildlife. We enjoy an amazing diversity of birds because of it.

 

[npaden]

I have one of these special tree digging shovels - https://www.tripplebrookfarm.com/tbf/man/general/tds_main.shtml

It isn't a magic wand or anything for sure. Also not sure it would work on something that big. It works really good for trees about 6' tall with 3' diameter root balls though.

 

[bobbydean]

Nathan, the tree digging shovels that we used moved 10 pecan trees in a day. The trees were trimmed back, but the trunks were all 12 to 15 feet tall. I think they have different size shovels!

The also dig the hole and take it back to the hole that they took the tree out of. I was amazed at the efficiency.

 

[npaden]

Nathan, the tree digging shovels that we used moved 10 pecan trees in a day. The trees were trimmed back, but the trunks were all 12 to 15 feet tall. I think they have different size shovels!

The also dig the hole and take it back to the hole that they took the tree out of. I was amazed at the efficiency.

Yes, the one in my link is operated by hand! It is a pretty unique shovel and does reasonably well if you keep it sharp.

 

[bobbydean]

Mine were on a tractor with 4 diamond shaped spades each about 5 ft in length. I thought we were talking about different tools!