How to Transplant Large Sassafras Trees
Sassafras oils were used medicinally, to flavor foods and as a scent in perfume and soap from colonial days, when the Native Americans introduced it to the British. The U.S. Food and Drug administration banned its use in 1979 because of its mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. It is still used as a landscape plant, due to its ease of care and attractive fall foliage. Large sassafras trees do not adapt well to transplanting, and must be moved with a large, intact root ball. Moving your tree in February, when it is fully dormant, gives the best results. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Loppers
- Saw
- Shovel
- Sharp spade or mattock
- Tarp or burlap
- Large hand truck
- Spray paint (optional)
- Epsom salt
- Tree fertilizer
Instructions
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1
Cut back all limbs on the tree by 50 percent with loppers and a saw. Remove any dead or damaged limbs.
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2
Rake any debris and clean away any loose soil from around the tree. Draw a circle 18 inches out from the tree with spray paint. Use a sharp spade to sever the roots all the way around the tree.
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3
Dig a trench starting outside the circle. Dig the root ball with soil intact to a depth of 20 inches, tapering it toward the bottom. Sever all remaining roots at the bottom of the ball and place the burlap or tarp under the root ball. Lift the burlap or tarp at four corners and remove the tree from the hole.
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4
Place the tree on a large hand truck to move it to its new location. Dig a hole twice the diameter and the same depth as the root ball. Place the subsoil and topsoil into different mounds.
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5
Hold the sassafras tree in position while replacing the subsoil. Water thoroughly, using 1/2 gallon of water per square foot of sandy soil, and half that amount for clay soil. Allow the water to soak in.
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Add the topsoil back into the hole. Poke several holes around the root ball with the shovel handle to eliminate any air pockets. Tamp the topsoil lightly with your foot, but do not compact the soil. Sprinkle 1 cup of Epsom salt around the trunk to aid in root development. Water the tree again thoroughly.
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7
Mulch the newly planted sassafras tree to a depth of 3 inches. Keep the mulch 3 inches away from the trunk of the tree.
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Maintain moisture around the root ball according to your soil type. Well-draining soils require more frequent watering than clay soils. Fertilize with an all-purpose tree fertilizer in spring after your sassafras tree begins to leaf out.
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Tips & Warnings
Enlist one or two people to help lift the tree. Large root balls can weigh up to 200 lbs.
Wash your hands well after transplanting the sassafras tree. The oils of the tree can cause dizziness, dry mouth and hallucinations.
