Sugar Maple Planting - Ask Extension
Transplanting several 2.5-4 foot small sugar maple trees from a heavy shaded woods area with good top soil to an open clay field. Digging them up myse...
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Sugar Maple Planting #842521
Asked July 25, 2023, 1:02 PM EDT
Transplanting several 2.5-4 foot small sugar maple trees from a heavy shaded woods area with good top soil to an open clay field. Digging them up myself trying to get all the roots and planting. Sometimes difficult to get all the roots. I have read the text books.
Trying to increase probability of success.
So far looks like the leaves are turning brown. Its the first time they have had full sun may have sun burned the leaves. These seedling are dug up under a canopy of larger trees. Giving them plenty of water.
1. Does it help to soak the bare roots trees in five gallons of water before planting? And for how long?
2. Is it better to start in containers so that there not in full sun? Control. And for how long should you graduate them to full sun. Before you plant them. Will they survive in containers over winter or plant in late fall?
3. Any tricks to increase probability from someone that actually has done this would be helpful. Don't send me a Google or text book answer. I have read.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hot, dry, droughty conditions are never a good time to transplant trees. They are drought stressed, they have lost 75% of their roots, they are adapted to growing in the shade and adequate water will help but not overcome the stressors.
1) If they are purchased bare root trees then soaking them according to the instructions that come with the trees is beneficial.
2) Putting them in large containers, keeping them in the shade and keeping the soil moist would give them more of a chance at success. To keep the trees over the winter in pots the pots would need to be sunk in the ground. It does not guarantee survival but they won't survive in pots left out of the ground over winter. They should stay in the pots until they resume growth.
3) The best trick would be to attempt this in early spring before leaf out, put the tree in a container and plant in the fall. They could be put into the ground in the spring if you can keep the soil moist but not soggy all season.
1) If they are purchased bare root trees then soaking them according to the instructions that come with the trees is beneficial.
2) Putting them in large containers, keeping them in the shade and keeping the soil moist would give them more of a chance at success. To keep the trees over the winter in pots the pots would need to be sunk in the ground. It does not guarantee survival but they won't survive in pots left out of the ground over winter. They should stay in the pots until they resume growth.
3) The best trick would be to attempt this in early spring before leaf out, put the tree in a container and plant in the fall. They could be put into the ground in the spring if you can keep the soil moist but not soggy all season.
