How to Transplant a Tree Growing in a Container

Selling a tree in a container means no one has to take the time to dig up the tree at the point of sale. It also means there is less trauma to the tree's root system. Removing the tree from the container and successfully planting it is your job, but by the time you get a container-grown tree home, it is often "pot bound," meaning the roots have grown in circles at the bottom of the container while lacing themselves in and out of the pot's drainage holes. You risk damaging the root ball and killing the tree unless the transplant is done properly. Luckily there is a way for even garden novices to ensure that their tree is safely and happily transplanted.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Remove the tree from the container. Cut away the plastic or metal container. If the tree is in a fiber container that is meant to decompose after planting, tear away the sides to allow the roots easier access the new soil.

2. Plant the tree no deeper than it was originally growing in the pot. Dig a hole just deep enough for the tree's root ball to sit at the bottom so that the original soil line on the trunk is level with the top of the hole.

3. Make the planting hole at least twice as wide as the root ball. Tree roots grow sideways, not downward, so the hole must be wide enough to accommodate the tree's current and future root system. Container-grown trees usually have a fair amount of root system right out of the container. Give those roots room to fan out quickly and reach the new soil's nutrients.

4. Untangle any roots that have grown in a circular fashion inside the bottom of the container. Loosen them from the container soil around the root ball and fan them out. Cutting and splaying tightly root-bound roots is necessary to encourage them to abandon their previously circular growing pattern and grow outward into the new soil.

5. Set the tree's root ball into the hole and fan any loose roots out in the direction you want them to grow.

6. Dilute a liquid starter fertilizer to half strength. Use a product like Miracle Grow's Quick Start. Add the fertilizer into the hole before you fill it in.

7. Fill in the hole with enough soil to reach the former soil line on the tree trunk. Firm the soil without packing it down too hard. This fills in any air pockets around the roots.

8. Water the newly-planted tree thoroughly.

Tips & Warnings

• If the container-grown tree you are planting is tall or has a large, heavy trunk, stake the tree with ropes to keep it from tipping or swaying and thereby disturbing the newly-planted roots.
• If you dig the planting hole too deep, too much water collects in the loose soil beneath the tree roots and creates a sink hole. It also places the tree at risk for root rot when a hole is too deep or has too much loose soil at the bottom.