"As old as the hills" aptly describes wild pine trees (Pinus spp.). These evergreens evolved in the Northern hemisphere 130 to 200 million years ago and have largely remained there. Wild pines often present as tall trees with straight trunks but the genus also includes smaller trees and low-lying shrubs. Many pine species thrive in a Mediterranean climate. Wild pines can work as backyard trees as long as your yard is a large one, but transplant is easier and far more likely to be successful if you select a young, small tree to transplant.
Draw a circle on the soil around the pine tree about 18 inches out from the trunk, three months before transplanting time. Insert a sharp spade into the ground on the perimeter of the circle. Press to make a 10-inch deep cut in the soil. Repeat until the entire circle is cut, to remove longer roots in preparation for transplanting.
Remove grass and weeds from the new planting site. If necessary, spray the area with a root-killing herbicide a week before spading or tilling the soil. Perform this work about three months after the root pruning, just before transplanting the tree.
Work the soil with a shovel to a depth of at least one foot. Dig a planting hole in the middle of the worked soil, 6 inches deeper than the pine's root ball and twice as wide. Do not add fertilizer or soil amendments.
Dig out the pine tree by enlarging and deepening the circle with shovel and spade. Slide the shovel under the root ball and loosen it by moving the shovel from side to side. Lift out the tree with the root ball intact, set it on a tarp you have spread nearby and drag it carefully to the new planting hole. Alternatively, wrap the tarp around the root ball and get help to lift it into a wheelbarrow or truck bed to transport to the new planting site.
Refill the bottom 6 inches of the planting hole with loose soil. Place the pine's root ball in the planting hole, then fill around the root ball with soil. Tamp down the soil occasionally with the back of the shovel. Water thoroughly after transplanting. Mulch with shredded wood.
Things You Will Need
- Garden spade
- Your young pine may burn from direct afternoon sun. If the planting location is not shaded in the afternoons, build a sunscreen of plywood and erect it on the west side of the tree. Painted wood lasts longer.
- Evergreens may be planted at any time when the ground is not frozen. Mild spring and fall temperatures work better than summer heat.
- Never remove a wild pine from someone else's property without permission. In the case of park land, you may need to obtain written permission.
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