With proper handling and in the right climate, goldenraintree (Koelreuteria paniculata)
can be easy to transplant bare root, spring or fall. Photo by Michelle Sutton
Seven Takeaways from Dr. Bassuk's Research
1. Size matters most: small plants are more easily transplanted successfully:
roots take up more water, shoot growth and leaf area are increased.
2. Container production is safest with difficult-to-transplant species*
because you have all the roots in the ball. *except for root-bound
plants—but root pruning increases water uptake
3. "Fall Hazards" have more to do with size than species. Planting at small caliper
improves fall transplanting for most species and production methods.
4. Poor site conditions exacerbate transplanting difficulties but good site con-
ditions do not eliminate transplanting difficulties (witness the example of
the large caliber bur oaks in perfect growing conditions that all died).
5. Watering after transplanting (spring or fall) is crit-
ical for success. Proper mulching helps with this.
6. The ability of roots to take up water is more important than the volume of roots,
although greater volume of roots also contributes significantly to transplanting success.
7. There are still things we don't understand about species differences.
urban-forestry.com 31
