Has anyone had any success transplanting established small trees? EDITIED WITH PIC

The previous owners went a little nuts when they planted all the trees years ago. We are now left with large japanese maples in various spots. The spots are in horrible locations and I assume they were suppose to be minature but about 5 feet tall and very wide.
When we were getting estimates about taking down some pinetrees over our pool I asked about transplanting and one person that it could cost as much to just buy a new one. But the tree's are gorgous, especially the verigated one that is orange and green. But they are really in bad spots.

ETS:
1.) the tree is blocking the window in the kitchen so you can't look out at all

2.) seems to close to the house and will need be moved/taken down when we redo the patio (this one is my favorite)

3.) is in the walkway to the front door so you have to either duck or walk around it

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Message edited 8/16/2007 9:58:05 AM.

Re: Has anyone had any success transplanting established small trees?

We had the same issue with smaller trees/shrubs and were told by many landscapers and nursery owners that if the tree is 5+ years old, 9 x out of 10 it will not survive a transplant - You're better off just buying a new tree -

Re: Has anyone had any success transplanting established small trees?

My Dad and I used to grow maple trees, oak trees, and elm trees. We would start growing the tree in a small plant container until we saw a seedling. We would leave it outside to get sunlight and we would water it whenever he watered the grass and now they're about a foot high. He brought them down on a recent visit cause we're removing a butterfly bush and will be transplanting one of the trees there. They can remain in the larger plant container we moved it to for up to a year while the roots and such get stronger.

Re: Has anyone had any success transplanting established small trees?

5ft tall isn't very big for a Japanese Maple, but I think it would depend on the diameter of the trunk. It's more about the root system than the actual size of the tree.

You might want to call Conserv-a-Tree for an estimate. We use them for tree & lawn services.

Message edited 8/16/2007 9:46:28 AM.

Re: Has anyone had any success transplanting established small trees? EDITIED WITH PIC

I've never done it but the immediate problem that I see is that they're all planted next to concrete walkways.

If you're ripping up the patio anyway, it's worth a try to dig up as much of the rootball as you possibly can. That is going to be extremely heavy, so see if you can use a hand truck or something. But the other ones will have roots underneath the walkways and that might be more problematic.

I do remember a show on HGTV's Gardening By The Yard where Paul James transplanted an established japanese maple. You might be able to find the info on their site about it - there were specifics about how deep to plant, amending the soil, the right time of year to do it, etc.

Re: Has anyone had any success transplanting established small trees? EDITIED WITH PIC

there are many japanese red maple varieties.... some can endure a lot, and others are extraordinarily delicate.... I think you should pull a leaf off and ID the variety. It may not survive a transplant.

If that's the case, and its not at its max height yet, what about pruning it over time so it eventually grows above the window, and you can once again get light in your room?

Re: Has anyone had any success transplanting established small trees? EDITIED WITH PIC