How to transplant an oak tree can seem like a complex task to learn, given the tree’s size. However, you can successfully transplant an oak with this guide. Start by identifying and preparing the next location, digging your Fagaceae family plant out, and replanting it.
Continue reading until the end for all the details!
JUMP TO TOPIC
What Are the Factors To Consider When Transplanting Oak Trees?
The factors to consider when transplanting oak trees include choosing the best season to do it, which is during late fall or early winter. You should also consider if the new location’s temperatures and humidity suit the tree’s growth and if the area has suitable soil and enough light.
Black and red oaks grow big and have specific growing conditions that you must consider before moving them from their current habitat.
– The Best Time to Transplant
Oaks are choosy with when to transplant, so you must get the timing right. Your transplant will be more successful in late fall or early winter. The trees are dormant during these seasons, making the process more seamless.
Besides, when the tree is in dormant season, it is not actively growing. The transplant messes up with the roots for a while, and since the tree is not growing at the time of the transfer, it gets enough time to heal before the growing seasons. Also, transplanting during the dormant season allows the roots to be established in the soil before the dry months.
– Ideal Soil Conditions
White oaks grow in deep, well-draining, acidic soil with a PH of 5.0 to 6.0. the soil should also be nutrient-rich to support the oak’s growth. Replanting the tree in alkaline soil that gets soggy can lead to a failed transplant and the tree’s death.
If the new site doesn’t have rich soil, add compost and organic matter to increase the nutrients. You can also test the soil’s PH level in the current plant location. If the new site’s soil has a higher PH, use oak leaves and pine needles to make it more acidic.
– Watering Requirements Before and After the Transplant
Watering is essential for oaks before and after transplanting. Watering the soil before the transplant makes the ground softer for digging, making the transplanting easier. Watering also helps the root balls stick together, making removing them from the soil easier.
You must also water the new hole before planting the tree. The water soothes the newly planted roots and reduces the transplant shock. Water also makes the ground easier to penetrate by the roots.
Ensure you water the live oak tree more frequently after transplanting it. As mentioned, water prevents more transplant shock on the roots, increasing the chances of the plant’s survival. Aside from that, it closes the air pores left in the soil after transplanting the tree, which can hinder the plant’s rooting.
However, although oaks require frequent watering after transplantation to prevent transplant shock, you should reduce watering after the tree establishes itself. Oaks are drought-resistant trees that don’t do well in overly wet soil. High moisture levels can lead to severe disease attacks like fungi and root rot.
– Temperatures for the New Plants
Another factor to consider before planting oak trees is if the temperatures of the new site match that of the previous location. A high disparity in temperature levels can cause the transplanted oak tree dying.
Oaks prefer a wide range of temperatures, depending on the species. They can grow in areas of temperatures between -40- and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, making them the most adaptable plants. Therefore, you can easily find a suitable new location for your transplanted oaks.
Also, note that some oak species cannot survive in freezing regions, so you must first know your tree species. For example, the optimal temperature for white oaks is 55 degrees Fahrenheit. It can withstand hot temperatures but doesn’t do well in freezing zones.
– Proper Tree Placement
Oak trees grow large with time, so they need enough space to allow their branches to grow as wide as possible. Leave at least 40 feet of space between the holes when transplanting your oaks. Growing the trees close together creates large canopies that block out light for other plants growing under them.
Also, don’t plant oaks near houses. Their root systems are invasive, and they can damage nearby buildings and other trees. The houses also hinder the branches from growing as wide as they can.
– Light Conditions
Sunlight is essential for oak’s growth. They should get at least six hours of direct sunlight daily to thrive. These trees also tolerate shade, but don’t plant them under huge canopies that don’t let enough light penetrate.
Low light levels could slow the tree’s healing from the transplant shock. It also slows down the plant’s growth because there is less photosynthesis, which makes the energy used for cell growth and development.
However, while light is essential for oaks, don’t expose the planed tree to the scorching sun. This could burn its leaves, causing brown spots and turning other leaves yellow, which reduces the plant’s ability to photosynthesize and grow.
How to Successfully Transplant an Oak Tree
To successfully transplant an oak tree, first choose and prepare a suitable location for the plant’s growth. Next, prepare the plant for uprooting. The preparations include pruning the large oak and watering it. Carefully dig out the root ball and replant the whole tree.
Oak saplings are easy to transplant, but you must follow the correct procedure.
1. Choose the Location To Grow the Oak
Choosing a suitable location for growing oak should be done before digging out the plant. This is because leaving the roots above the ground causes the plant more transplant shock, which can take a long time to cure. When the new location is ready, you should uproot and replant your oak immediately.
When choosing a new location for planting oak, ensure it has all the requirements for oak growth. This includes the suitable soil, water, and light depending on the oak variety. You should also choose an area with enough space for oak growth because the trees grow large.
Dig a bigger hole than the current tree size. You could dig a hole twice as deep as the existing tree to provide enough room for growth. Ensure the hole is not under other oaks or near a house that the grown oak could destroy.
2. Prepare the Oak for Transplanting
Oaks are big trees, and you must get them ready for transplanting. Some ways to prepare the trees are watering them to loosen the soil around the roots and make the root ball more intact. 
Before the transplant, you should also prune the plant to remove the extra twigs and leaves. This makes it lighter and easier to remove from the ground.
3. Dig the Tree Out of the Soil
Once the oak is ready for transplanting, dig it out of the soil. You will need a shovel to dig the ground. This delicate stage of transplanting should be done with care because you could cut down the tree roots when digging.
To protect your plant, dig the tree a few inches from the center. You should dig around the oak to loosen the root system and not cut it. As you continue digging the soil, shake the tree sideways carefully to make the roots loose.
Once you get deep towards the roots, put the shovel under the oak and lift it. If the roots are loose enough, they could come out in a root ball. If not, continue digging while slowly shaking the tree to make it easier to remove.
If growing oak trees in pots, you should squeeze the container to loosen the plant, soil, and roots clinging onto the jar. The squeezing also ensures you don’t leave any roots behind, which could hurt the plant and cause its death. Other gardeners prefer cutting the sides of the container to expose the root ball without difficulty.
4. Trim the Roots
Oak tree roots are huge. Once the root ball comes out, check for damaged and infected roots and prune them. You should use a sharp and clean knife to prune the roots and prevent them from transferring infections. The pruning helps the tree establish new roots after planting and protects it from diseases and pest attacks such as mealybugs.
5. Plant the Oak
The next step is replacing the oak in the new hole. If you don’t know how to plant an oak tree sapling, this guide will lead you. First, fill the new hole with water and wait for the water to get absorbed into the soil. Then, lower the sapling into the hole and place the root ball in such a way that the tree will be upright.
Fill in the hole around with soil to cover the roots. You should also ensure that the tree is at the same level as the soil in the previous location. Tap the soil to close any air pores, but don’t over-tap it to avoid suffocating the plant.
If you are transplanting oaks in the fall, the steps are very similar to those outlined above. Start by preparing the new hole, then trim the plant branches and leaves to make digging out of the soil easier. You should also water the tree as you prepare to transplant it. Lastly, remove the tree from the soil and plant it in the new spot.
6. Provide the Proper Care
Digging and replanting the oak won’t give you a successful transplant. You must take care of the plant until it establishes its roots in the soil to increase its chances of survival. This is because uprooting the plant takes it through a lot of plant stress, which could take a while to heal.
Ensure you water the plant daily or after two days after replanting it. Water soothes the roots and reduces transplant shock. It also helps the roots to establish in the soil. You should also provide organic fertilizer in the first weeks of the transplant and inorganic fertilizer after four to six weeks.
This transplanting process is suitable for mature oaks. If you start by growing oak acorns, you must sow the seeds in the potting soil first. If you are unsure how to plant an oak from an acorn, we’re here to help!
First, push the acorns into the soil and water them. When the seedlings grow, cut down the weaker ones. Then, transplant the seedlings into larger pots and leave them to grow. Once they get to about five to six inches tall, transfer them to a permanent spot.
How large of an oak tree can be transplanted? You can easily transplant oaks that are five to eight inches tall. Bigger oaks are harder to move because they have more established roots. The transplanting process could also be expensive because they will then require a machine to dig them out of the soil.
Conclusion
Transplanting oak trees should be done when the plants are young and easy to dig out of the soil. Mature oaks have developed huge root systems, and digging them out could cut some roots, increasing the chances of a failed transplant.
- The best time to transplant oaks is during their dormant stages because they will use their energy to heal.
- Choose areas with suitable growth conditions for oaks, like well-draining soil and enough moisture.
- Plant your oaks away from buildings to give them enough space for growth.
Now that you know the procedure of transplanting oaks, don’t wait too long to do it. Pick up your spade and start digging today!