Sometimes the best tree on your property is in the wrong spot. Maybe a new driveway expansion, pool installation, or home addition puts a favorite shade tree directly in the path of construction. In the past, that usually meant the tree had to be cut down. Today, tree spade technology gives Tallahassee homeowners another option: physically relocating the tree to a new location on the property where it can continue to grow and provide value for years to come. It is not the right solution for every situation, but when conditions align, a tree spade transplant can preserve a tree that would otherwise be lost.
A tree spade is a large piece of mechanical equipment -- typically mounted on a truck or trailer -- that uses a set of tapered steel blades to dig around the base of a tree and extract it with a cone-shaped root ball intact. The machine then transports the tree to a pre-dug hole at the new location and sets it in place. The size of tree that can be moved depends on the spade's capacity, but units commonly used in our area can handle trees with trunk diameters up to about eight to ten inches. Species with compact, fibrous root systems like hollies, magnolias, and smaller oaks tend to transplant most successfully, while trees with deep taproots or extensive lateral root systems may not be good candidates.
Timing and aftercare are critical to transplant success in North Florida. The ideal window for tree spade work in our region is during the cooler months from late November through early March, when trees are dormant or semi-dormant and water demand is lower. Transplanting during the heat of a Tallahassee summer dramatically increases the risk of transplant shock and mortality. Once the tree is relocated, consistent deep watering for the first one to two growing seasons is essential as the root system re-establishes itself in the surrounding soil. Staking or guying may also be necessary to keep the tree stable until new roots anchor it in place.
Miller's Tree Service operates tree spade equipment and has the expertise to evaluate whether a specific tree is a good candidate for relocation. Our team considers factors including species, size, health, root zone condition, soil type at both the origin and destination, and access for equipment. We handle the entire process from initial assessment through transplanting and post-move care recommendations. If you are facing a construction project or landscape redesign and want to explore whether your favorite tree can be saved, give us a call for a site evaluation.
