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Fall is a good time to transplant trees, shrubs and vines. The best time to transplant is after the first killing frost, when the soil has good moisture reserve. Roots begin to develop when the soil temperature around the roots exceeds 46 F., which it often does during the winter. Plants transplanted in the fall are more likely to survive when spring arrives, because their root systems have developed over the winter months.
Trees, shrubs and vines suffer a certain amount of shock when they're transplanted. Plants get most of their water through the roots and lose it through the leaves, so there are some steps that need to be taken to minimize shock. For deciduous plants - those that shed their leaves- plant after the leaves have dropped off in the fall, and also plant on a cloudy day if possible. Remove as little of the root system as possible.
Evergreens like Southern magnolias, or most hollies, usually are in a ball and burlap covered, unless they've been grown in containers. You shouldn't remove the burlap when transplanting.
A practice sometimes suggested when planting trees or shrubs is to replace the "bad" soil of the planting hole with "good" topsoil. This technique sounds like a good idea, but often results in the death of the newly planted plants. The "bad" soil most common in landscape sites in Arkansas is poorly drained clay soil. When the planting hole is dug a "bathtub" is created. If the bathtub is filled with good, well drained topsoil, more water will enter the topsoil fill, but because water movement out of the "bathtub" is slow, the roots will often drown.
The hole should be twice as large as the root system. Add 6-8 inches of backfill before placing the plant in the hole. Firm in place to reduce settling. This should bring the top of the soil ball to a level slightly higher than the surrounding soil. The finished planting depth after settling of the soil should be such that the plant is exactly the same depth after replanting as when it was growing. Water the plant immediately after transplanting. New plantings should receive at least one inch of water per week either through rainfall or irrigation for at least the first two years following planting. Use a mulch to keep the soil surface cool and moist. You can use bark, pine needles, grass clippings, leaf mold, well-rotten manure, pecan hulls, peat moss, straw or similar materials.
Avoid heavy applications of commercial fertilizers during the first year after transplanting. Otherwise, burning and death can occur.
For information on transplanting, stop by the University of Arkansas Baxter County Cooperative Extension office and pick up "Planting Trees and Shrubs in Arkansas Landscapes" factsheet, visit www.uaex.edu or call 425-2335.
Mark Keaton is staff chair for Baxter County at University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.