Can these small trees be relocated?

Question

Hey all. A question for those who know much about landscaping.. Looking to buy this property. These bushes are clearly too close to the house. Is there any way to move them? Are they worth digging up and relocating? I would like to bring them closer to the curb, but if I can't I will just chop them down. Thanks!

Henry T. · Answer

Yes. Those look like Pyramidalis (Thuja occidentalis). You can dig those up. Go with a base about 2 feet wide or so, all around, then lift out with your shovel, maybe put on a tarp and slide them where needed.. In your new hole, supplant with a high quality mulch soil mix. You should have a fairly good success rate. I did the same thing and only lost one.

JD Martin · Answer

Depends on how old they are - kind of hard to tell from your picture. They're close enough together that you'll have trouble separating root balls on each plant. Bigger issue is that they look terrible - badly misshapen especially. You can't just reshape arborvitae or leland cypress by carving it up; anything back beyond green won't regrow. So you'll have to really think how badly you want to try to save these, and where they're going.

Dan L. · Answer

Thanks @JD Martin , That is a good point about are they even worth it especially when you consider the roots. The property has about a quarter mile of street access, and no trees or anything to block it, so I wanted to put something there to give a little privacy anyway, and then these trees obviously have to go, so I was hoping to re-use them. But you bring up good points about whether they are the ones. I never actually purchased trees before so I don't know the cost.

Dan L. · Answer

@Peter Mckernan Thanks.. But since it is a flip or a rental, it probably would not be worth getting it professionally done like that. I have a friend with a skid steer, and if we can't do it it's probably not worth it!

@Henry T. Thanks. That would be cool if it works!

Peter Mckernan · Answer

I would have a landscaper visit the property.. An arborist would be who I would ask, this is a tough guess for anyone not there to confirm these can be moved with no issues.

Can these small trees be relocated?

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