--- In American_Chestnut_Trees_and_Hybrids@yahoogroups.com, "James"
<jls14341@p...> wrote:
>
I'm wondering if I could get a whole bunch of 1yr
> or 2yr trees, and start them all very close together in a clear
> area, to get them growing, then they can be growing while I finish
> buidling my house and clear a larger area, install irigation
> system.. etc, then transplant them into the proper spacing as
> larger trees. any advice on doing this? how would I dig up the
> trees without damaging them?

James,
Trees can be transplanted at any age and size with the proper
equipment. I like to keep my transplanting done on trees less than 2
years old just for the better success. When transplanting on
seedlings just dig straight down from the drip edge of the branches.
One shovel blade depth should get you down to clear the tap root.
Any tree older than 2 to 3 years will probably have a long tap root
that will require a deeper depth. In that case you have to trench
around the tree to a depth to clear the root and tip the tree to put
burlap or something to be able to lift the tree out of the hole.Never
haul a tree around by grabbing the trunk. The success of
transplanting is determined by the amount of shock you put the tree
through.Don't expose the roots to air. Keep that in mind and
generally you should be successfull. This is why I keep my
transplanting to seedlings. Much better rate of success, for
afterall, if they die it's from what you have done, and I hate to see
them die at my hand.
Transplant during dormant times, late fall or early spring. Around
here it's after a frost but when the ground isn't frozen.
>


I'm searching for places to buy trees, does anyone have any
> suggestions? I'm hoping to get some planted around February or
> March.

Try any of the seed catalogs out there. Just received a Jung
Quality Seed mag in the mail and I see that they offer chestnut
trees. Also Gurney's have chestnuts. www.jungseed.com Try a google
search on mail order trees and see what you can come up with.
For myself, I have found a chestnut tree that has characteristics
that I like and have been able to get many nuts from. I presently
have hundreds? bedded down for sprouting and am looking forward to
spring.I allow them to stay in their sprouting bed for 2 years , then
I transplant. So far 100% transplant success. Of course there is some
varmint depredation afterward. Rome wasn't built in a day.