Twig Growth of Eight Species of Shade Trees Following Transplanting

Abstract

Deciduous trees of eight species commonly used in the landscape (Norway maple, green ash, red maple, redbud, sugar maple, pin oak, ginkgo, and little leaf linden), 5-10 cm in diameter, were transplanted on four different dates during the 1979 growing season. The survival rate was excellent for each date. Significant variations in twig growth noted prior to transplanting had no relationship to growth rates after transplanting. For all species, twig growth was significantly reduced during the first 3 years after transplanting. Annual twig growth of all species except Norway maple equaled or exceeded pretransplanting rates by the fifth season after transplanting. Transplanting dates had no consistent effect on total twig growth after 5 years. Many species performed better when transplanted in late spring or summer rather than when transplanted in early spring or fall.