How to Dig Up Japanese Maple Seedlings

Dig up Japanese maple seedlings in late summer or fall, also the best time to plant trees. One or two days before you plan to dig, thoroughly water the entire area around the seedlings, which will help stick to the roots.

Assemble pots, potting soil and all other tools near the growing Japanese seedlings. A key goal is minimizing the exposure of roots to the air, so potting them quickly is very important. Prepare pots by filling them one-third full of potting soil.

Dig deep with the spade all the way around the Japanese maple seedling, in a circular pattern at least 4 to 6 inches away from the seedling. Get all of the young tree’s roots and as much soil as possible, to minimize transplant shock and tree damage.

Use the spading fork to dig down and under the seedling, to make sure you don’t inadvertently sever roots beneath the seedling tree. Pop up the entire root ball and lift it out of the soil. Place the root ball into a deep pot.

Fill in around the outside of the root ball with potting soil. Water thoroughly. If you’ll be keeping Japanese maple seedlings in containers permanently or while deciding where to transplant them, add 2 or 3 inches of mulch to the soil surface.