[Swede]

I am pretty much maintenance only. But, I have a customer that wants me to remove 2 Blue Prince Holly's that are about 7 ft. tall and about 4 ft. around. Do these transplant easily? I'm going to try and do it alone. I'll be doing it in September. Thanks for any tips.

[GLAN]

I would try late September or do it in early November.

Trim them back a little

You will want to get a clean root ball about 30" across and 18" deep.

Spray with antidesicent or "wilt proof" around mid November or late November if weather is moderate

[agla]

I would do it in early September and I would not trim it back, although that is not bad advice.

The reason that I would do it sooner is to get them watered in early enough that the soil in the root ball will be able to gain water from the soil outside of the root ball and the hole. Broadleafed evergreens transplanted, or planted for that matter, late in the season tend to desicate because they can not replenish water over the winter.

The new growth is already hardened off, that is why I would not trim it in September.

WiltPruf is great advice.

That is just how I'd do it, not to say anyone else is wrong.

AND WHY CAN"T NEW PEOPLE TELL US WHERE THE HECK THEY ARE!

[Paul]

I have to agree with agla on this, moving evergreens too late in the year will cause more problems that it's worth. September is as late as I would go.

[GLAN]

Location and average climate dictates what we do

[Uncle Albert]

AS you can see all the advice comes from folks with great experience. If maintenance is your thing and you want to please your customer, price out new 4'-5' plants. At 7'tall and alone it's not easy. Transplant success depends upon many factors. AS soon as you receive $ for this move, the customer quickly forgets that you did your best to help, and three weeks after the job you become the guy who didn't do the right thing, and thats why the tree died. All I'm trying to say is don't loose a maintenance account over something with so many variables. Sometimes its better not to get involved.

[Lanelle]

Uncle Albert is right. Had this exact thing happen to a Foster Holly transplant. I did sell a new Oakleaf Holly to replace it. Now I wish I had insisted on doing that from the start.