Transplanting Newly Purchased Cypress Tree

• 1). Dig a hole twice the diameter of the root ball and not quite as deep, making sure to pick a location in full to partial sun with well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5. Loosen the soil at the edges of the hole with a shovel or pitchfork to promote healthy root establishment.
  
  
• 2). Set the Italian cypress tree in the hole, making sure it is straight and centered, with the best side facing forward and the top of the root ball 1 inch above the soil. Remove the fasteners and pull the burlap back so it won't stick out of the hole; it is not necessary to remove the burlap. If the Italian cypress tree was sold in a container, turn the container upside down, gently remove the tree, and spread out the root ball with your hands before placing the tree in the planting hole.
  
  
• 3). Backfill with the original soil, watering as you go to prevent air pockets from forming and harboring disease. Blend the water and soil with the shovel from time to time. Fill hole completely and tamp down soil.
  
  
• 4). Water again immediately after transplanting and water regularly thereafter to keep the soil moist until the cypress has established itself. To tell if the cypress needs watering, poke a finger into the root ball, down to the second knuckle--if the soil is dry, water well.
  
  
• 5). Mulch around the Italian cypress to a depth of three inches, but don't let mulch press up against the trunk. According to the Fast Growing Trees website, you should keep a small circle around the trunk free of mulch.
  
  

Transplanting an Established Cypress Tree

• 1). Dig a foot-deep trench around the Italian cypress at the drip line, or the spot where rain water would fall from the tips of the outermost branches. You should do this on a cool day in fall, following a spell of dry weather.
  
  
• 2). Undercut the roots, digging in at an angle and trying to keep root ball intact around the tree. A good rule of thumb for how large the root ball should be is to allow a minimum of 12 inches around for each inch of trunk diameter.
  
  
• 3). Use the root ball--never the limbs or trunk--to lift the tree out of the hole and place it on a square of carpet. Cover the root ball with fabric, even if you are just moving the tree across the yard. Do not allow the roots to be exposed to wind or sunlight as you move the tree to its new location.
  
  
• 4). Place the root ball into a hole you have dug in the new location, making sure to plant it at the same depth at which it was growing in its old location. Backfill with the original soil from the new hole.
  
  
• 5). Feed the Italian cypress four weeks after transplanting with a granular 10-8-6 NPK fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb. per inch of trunk diameter.
  
  
• 6). Begin watering when the hole is two-thirds of the way full and continue to backfill, tamping the soil down when the hole is filled.
  
  
• 7). Stake and tie the tree immediately after transplanting to immobilize the roots and help promote stability. Water again to settle the soil and continue to water deeply and regularly while the Italian cypress tree is establishing itself in its new location.
  
  
• 8). Apply a 3-inch layer of mulch to conserve moisture, protect the roots and provide a physical barrier against fungal disease.