Transplanting Sugar Maple, too late?

[smithsonmi]

I friend has offered us a Sugar Maple from their yard. It is about 12' tall (probably 3.5" caliper or so). Obviously it is completly leafed out. Is it too late this spring to move successfully? Should we wait until late fall or early next spring?

I will be hiring a tree transplant truck to move it for me.

Thanks!

Jim S.

 

[treeclimber165]

I would recommend waiting. But there is something you can do now to insure the successful transplant later. I assume you will be using a tree spade truck to move it. Double check the size of the tree spade, but assuming it is an 80" spade. Root trim the tree now by digging a 70" ring around the tree about 12-18" deep, then filling it back in. This will trim the roots and force the tree to create new feeder roots within an 80" circle. That way when you dig the tree this fall, more of the feeder roots will be included resulting on a less stressful move.