Does anyone know the formula for transplanting
trees with a DBH higher than 10"? Is it 1" DBH to 10 - 12" of rootball? Thanks!

Reply to post by Ken Six, on February 18, 1998 at 23:45:22:

>>Does anyone know the formula for transplanting
trees with a DBH higher than 10"? Is it 1" DBH to 10 - 12" of rootball?

That is the AAN standard, I believe, Ken, and generally accepted as the preferred root ball size.

Reply to post by Ken Six, on February 18, 1998 at 23:45:22:

We have used a formula at New York Botanical that takes the circumferance of the tree at ground-line plus one-foot as a radius measure for the ball. The figures work out closely to taking 10 to 12 per inch of diameter but ours is easy to do in the field with a length of string or rope.

We have used this method on two and three inch trees and on eighteen inch diameter conifers and have had good results overall.

Wayne

Reply to post by Ken Six, on February 18, 1998 at 23:45:22:

I think 10" of root ball for 1" of trunk is a good rule of thumb. On larger sizes I have seen something less than this, and on very few occasion a bit more. I think that it comes down to the soil type. Sandy soils a bit larger: clay soils a bit smaller.

The species also appears to be a factor. Something with a nice fiborus root system a bit smaller.

A lot of it comes down to who actualy does the digging.