Gardening and Horticulture - Advice on moving maple tree

I have to take a maple tree down and would like to try to save it. I know I have a lot going against me and that my chances for success are very slim. But, I'm thinking I either kill it or try...so I want to try.

It is about 15-20' high at its tallest branches. The trunk is split into about 6 different trunks just above the gound anywhere from 3-6" in diameter. Its leaves are just beginning to open this week and tomorrow (Friday May 1) is D-day.

I've thought about taking some of the outer smaller trunks off before moving it.

Any advice would be appreciated on what I can do to give it the best chance I can. Also, if you have a reason I should not try, please let me know. As I said, I figure it is going to die anyway, so I should try, but if trying has its own bigger problems, I'd like to hear them as well.

Thank you!

Hi Gracie,

Do you have any idea what the rootball of a 15' to 20' tall tree will weigh? It's going to be about 300# to 400#. Hope you have lots of muscles to help. My other thought when reading this was to raise my eyebrows when you mentioned how many trunks this tree has. Sounds like this tree needs one cut at the base with a chainsaw. Do you have any pictures?

Newt

Frequently, when some variety of trees are cut at groung level, maples are one I think, they respond with a group of shoots as you describe. The result is a much larger root system than would normally be associated with a twenty foot tree. If you are going to cut it down anyway and don't mind the effort, then give it a try. But you have to take an in tact ball of dirt to have any chance, and you timing may already be too late as it should be in the ground now before the sap starts to run. That may not be correct, but that is what I have always done. I have plenty of woods so move my own trees to where I want them. Usually only 5 to 10 feet tall max. Let's see if others post as well.

Bud

Is there a time limit/deadline? Must it be done now?

Whatever you try I think you're more likely to succeed if you wait until it's going back into dormancy rather than just coming out of it. Plus, if you can wait til autumn, you'll also be able to take advantage of that technique where you (now) use a spade to cut out the the rootball but leave it in place. This stimulates the growth of many smaller roots while severing the larger, longer ones reducing transplant shock as well as possibly reducing the overall size of the rootball.

Multiple trunks usually result in future problems. Especially in your case, for several reasons, it'd probably be wise to go with the strong central leader selecting the one best trunksto keep and removing the others.


Regardless, you'll probably still have something rather heavy.

Good luck!!