Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

When to transplant volunteer Cedar Elms in Cedar Park, TX?

Topic:
Author: Jimmy Mills
Date: Thursday - October 11, 2012
From: Cedar Park, TX

QUESTION: We have a number of volunteer cedar elms we would like to transplant. When is the best time to do this? Should they be potted first and later transplanted or transplanted immediately? Thanks.

ANSWER:

Cedar Elm Ulmus crassifolia (Cedar elm) is a hardy Texas native that should do well in Cedar Park. I’m going to provide some links that will let you get to know the tree better, plus some transplanting tips.
   Native Plant Society of Texas
    “The many beneficial traits of cedar elm”

    “March 2011 Plant of the Month” <  > (indicates that it is easy to transplant)

     University of Florida 

   Transplanting tips

       University of North Dakota

        Morton Arboretum

From the information that I have read, a good time to transplant is when the tree has become dormant, so wait until the end of November or later. I think that potting the trees and then replanting would increase the stress on the plant and decrease your chances of success.