Transplanting is defined as: the digging (aka. uprooting) of a plant from one location for the purpose of moving it to a new location. Typically, during this type of move lots of roots are lost.
Spring is the best time to transplant softwood species like pine, spruce, fir, hemlock, false cypress, and Atlantic white cedar. Other plants to move in spring include:
Species to Transplant in Spring |
Almond (Prunus spp.) |
Hawthorn species (Crataegus spp.) |
Oak (Quercus spp.) |
Apricot (Prunus spp.) |
Hawthorn, cockspur (Crataegus crusgalli) |
Pawpaw, common (Asiminia triloba) |
Baldcypress (Taxodium spp.) |
Hemlock (Tsuga spp.) |
Paulownia, royal (Paulownia tomentosa) |
Beech (Fagus spp.) |
Hickory (Carya spp.) |
Peach (Prunus spp.) |
Beech, American (Fagus
grandifolia) |
Holly, American (Ilex opaca) |
Pear, callery (Pyrus callergana) |
Beech, European (Fagus sylvatica) |
Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) |
Pecan (Carya spp.) |
Birch (Betula spp.) |
Hornbeam, American (Carpinus caroliniana) |
Persimmon, common (Diospyros virginiana) |
Birch, European white (Betula pendula) |
Hornbeam, European (Carpinus betulus) |
Plum (Prunus spp.) |
Birch, River (Betula nigra) |
Horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) |
Plum, cherry (Prunus cerasifera) |
Buckeye, Bottlebrush (Aesculus parviflora) |
Horsechestnut, ruby red |
Pine, jack (Pinus
banksiana) |
Butternut (Juglans spp.) |
Ironwood, American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) |
Pine, pondersoa (Pinus ponderosa) |
Cedar, red (Juniperus virginiana) |
Katsuratree (Cercidiphyllum
japonicum) |
Poplar (Populus spp.) |
Cherry (Prunus spp.) |
Laburnum (Laburnum spp.) |
Sassafras (Sassafras
albidum) |
Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster spp.) |
Larch (Larix spp.) |
Silverbell (Halesia spp.) |
Corktree, amur (Phellodendron amurense) |
Larch, golden (Pseudolarix amabilis) |
Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) |
Cypress (Taxodium spp.) |
Linden, silver (Tilia
tomentosa) |
Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) |
Daphne (Daphne spp.) |
Magnolia (Magnolia spp.) |
Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) |
Dogwood, flowering (Cornus floria) |
Magnolia, Cucumbertree (Magnolia acuminata) |
Tupelo, Black gum, Sour gum (Nyssa sylvatica) |
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) |
Magnolia, southern (Magnolia grandiflora) |
Walnut (Juglans spp.) |
Goldenraintree (Koelreuteria paniculata) |
Maple, paperbark (Acer griseum) |
Walnut, black (Juglans
nigra) |
False cypress (Chamaecyparis spp.) |
Maple, Red (Acer rubrum) |
Willow (Salix spp.) |
Fir (Abies spp.) |
Maple, sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) |
Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) |
Fringetree, white (Chionanthus virginicus) |
Maple, trident (Acer buergerianum) |
Yew (Taxus spp.) |
Source: Dirr, 1998; Himelick, 1981; Watson and Himelick, 1997 |
