Should work OK, with a short transfer time. Go for wider, shallower rootballs rather than narrower, deeper ones. I am presuming spring is not yet all that far advanced in zone 5 and growth hasn't started yet - if it has, then it won't work so well.

Resin

the next two weeks in z5 is the perfect time to do such ...

what you dont mention.. is whether you are paying for these ....

i would tend to recommend transplanting smaller CONIFERS .... its just easier all around.. the bigger the conifer.. the harder to re-establish itself.. the greater the chance of failure .....

does he have some in the 3 to 4 foot range .... IMHO.. it doubles your chance of success ...

you will be responsible for all water for 2 years minimum .. and without such .... high failure rate .... can you provide such in your application ...????

ken

Thanks for the responses! Our deciduous trees are still brown and wintry looking ... first daffodils are just blooming. I'll have to check the conifers we do have for signs of growth.

We do know we'll have to water lots -- we put in three 25-foot Norway spruces (provided and planted by a local nursery) two years ago, and just ran hoses through the meadow and left them there for the first year. Watered each tree all day (slow flow rate, since we're on a well and the pump has to keep up!) every other day (spring through fall, not in the winter of course). They are doing beautifully two years later.

We have not yet seen the trees in question here, but will go (if we do this at all) for smaller ones per your recommendations. I assume we would pay him something for them, but no clue how much (I think it would not be worth the gamble if he wants very much, since we would undoubtedly lose at least some, so price will largely determine whether we try this!).

You shouldn't have a problem. I've seen people transplant 5-7' white spruce with a front end loader. Spruce have wide shallow root systems. Ideal is a disk about 10" thick and 1/3 to half the height of the tree.

Keep the new tree moist but not soggy. fertilize with 10-51-10 The last number can be larger. Important thing is a large phosphorus (middle number) The latter should be mixed in the trees water, about 1 teaspoon per gallon.

If you have a bunch of large buckets, put one with a rock in it by each tree. Put a small hole in the bucket, and
fill the bucket up once a week. This will water your tree more gradually. Ballpark: 1-2 gallons per foot of tree per week. Check more often if you get a hot spell.

If your deciduous trees haven't broken bud yet, you're in time. If the spruce already have light green buds, your success will be limited.

If he's any good with a dozer he should be able to lift
a slab of tree root with it. If he's bull dozing the whole
thing offer him $10 per tree.