How to Transplant a Sugar Maple Tree in Maine

The sugar maple tree, also called hard maple or rock maple, is a deciduous tree hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zone 4, and it is found throughout the state of Maine. If you need to transplant a sugar maple, do it in the early spring, after the last frost. Sugar maples grow 1 foot in height a year, so during the first few years of growing would be the ideal time to transplant. The sugar maple tree requires moist, well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 to 7.3 and full sun.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Burlap
• Twine
• Organic mulch

Instructions

1. Dig a trench 12 inches deep and 12 inches wide around the sugar maple tree to remove the root-ball.

2. Cover the root-ball with damp burlap, tying with twine to prevent the burlap from coming off. Pick up the root-ball, not the trunk of the tree, to move it to its new location. Place on an old sheet and drag it or in a wheelbarrow if it is too heavy to carry.

3. Dig a hole two to three times larger than the root-ball of the tree. Saturate the hole with water, letting it drain before placing the tree in the hole.

4. Set the root-ball in the hole, making sure it is level with the ground. Backfill the hole stopping halfway to cut the twine and the exposed burlap. Continue to backfill the hole and water the tree thoroughly.

5. Apply a 3-inch layer of organic mulch around the sugar maple tree, making sure to not place any on the trunk of the tree. The mulch will help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.

6. Water the tree deeply every 10 to 14 days until water puddles on top, especially if rainfall is inadequate in Maine.

References

• University of Maine Extension: Sugar Maple
• Cornell University Extension: The Life of Sugar Maple Tree
• North Dakota State University Extension: Transplanting Trees and Shrubs