Gardening and Horticulture - relocating tree

I've got to move a japanese red maple tree in my front yard,temporarily, what should i do to make sure that i don't lose this tree.

Are you asking how to move it now? Or when it is dormant?

i've got to move it now, is it ok, and what safeguards should i take?

The reason we dig & transplant when the plant is dormant is about shock.

When we buy a bare root tree we wiss the most important aspect of the root system. The tiny hair sized feeder rootlets thousands of them.

Tearing the rootlets apart when the tree is not dormant can result in massive water loss, & shock. This is a fact that using chems & rooting hormones will not change.

If I had to move it. Now this is something I have done with some plants dying & I am advising you to wait untill leaf fall.

You will have to get some strong diggers & dig a trench around the tree at the drip line area. Dig down at least 4 feet down then take the shovel and use it to cut under the ball of dirt, work it in and back & forth.

Get burlap to wrap the root ball & keep the burlap moist. If you plan on transplanting the tree somewhere else, then keep it in a large black Pot from a Nursery supply use potting soil & don't let it dry out for a few weeks

How tall & wide is the tree?

I would also put a 5 or 6'foot metal post & drive it in next to the tree then tie a hose end mister & leave it on to mist the tree during the hot part of the day.

This is risky, & even if you follow all I have said, the tree may still die. I wish you good luck, & just maybe you will be one of the lucky few.