Hi, My husband and I will be transplanting THREE HUGE mature Crepe Myrtles next weekend (and we will be renting a backhoe to do so). A friend is building a pool and all three of the trees have to go. I know it will be a lot of work, but it will be worth it being these trees are absolutely gorgeous. We live in central Texas and are hoping this move won't be too hard on the trees since it's only September. Any advice would be appreciated,
Hi Gmenasco, I'm not sure what HUGE means, but I'm not sure a backhoe is going to work. You may need a tree spade and/or a consult from an arborist who has moved large trees. Here's what a tree spade looks like and some other helpful sites on how to b&b, plant, water, mulch your tree as well as some other helpful info on tree roots. There's lots to read, but it will help you to understand the root system of a large tree so you won't be writing in next fall when the tree is in decline. :) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG089 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/WO017 http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/Garden/02926.html http://www.tlcfortrees.info/planting depth.htm http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/mulching.aspx http://www.qualityweldingservice.com/treespade.html http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/trees/f1147w.htm http://www.tree-planting.com/tree-planting-8.htm http://www.albertarose.org/women/gardening/ball_and_burlap.htm http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/spfiles/sp571.pdf http://www.mdvaden.com/advice-landscape.shtml#wateringsuggestions And just when you thought I gave you too much to read, here's one on crepe myrtle care. http://www.ag.auburn.edu/landscape/crapemyrtle2.htm Best of luck with your new trees! Newt
Newt: I just ran across your very informative response re: transplanting crape myrtles dated 20 September 2005. What a wealth of information! Many thanks for your effort on behalf of all of us. Chuck
Chuck, so glad you found all those links helpful. I was surprised to see they are all still working with the exception of one. Newt
