How do you transplant an American beech?

Answer 1

You got to make sure you get one about knee-high and have a sharp shovel or spade. Dig a circle around the about 1-2 feet from the trunk (if possible), get as much root ball as you possibly can.

Try not to dig at an angle toward the trunk but straight down to grab more of the root system.

Don't pull on the tree but gently grab the fibrous (feeder) roots and free them from the soil.

Spot where you want it, preferably not on a hill or an unusually dry spot. If you see them in the woods, they'll usually be in moister soil or even bottom-land. I have had success w/Beeches by digging little deeper hole that usual for transplanting. Make sure you dig a really big hole (alot larger than the root ball) and backfill it w/really really good soil. You may have to buy it some soil amendments if your soil is crappy.

Tamp down your backfilled soil so it meets the roots and cover w/mulch (what you rake up from the floor of the woods is fine) just make sure it goes all the way arouond the tree and is fairly deep, kinda like the floor of the woods.

Soak it w/water, unless rain is expected that day.

Clip a few of the smaller limbs off, not all, but make sure its limbs are = to its roots (its lost root, so it needs to lose top growth)

Don't forget about it during a dry spell

Good Luck