What size of a perimeter should I dig to get the rootball of a white spruce that is 5 feet tall?

Question

There is actually 3 white spruce together. I know that only one of them will make it in the long run but I want to transplant them away from the house because they are to close to the foundation. It will be difficult because there is trees on both sides of the group. One is a apple tree that is about eight feet tal and the trunk is about four feet away. On the other side is a white pine that is about seven feet tall and about six feet away. Also there is the concrete walkway in front of it that is about 3 feet away. The house and the walkway are parallel and the trees are in between. The house is further away than the walkway (about five feet). I am planning to dig it out and put the rootball in a wet cloth sack. I will only need to move it away about 20 yards to it's new location.

Answer 1

roots usually extend as far as the branches reach out. If the trees are 5 feet tall, you'll probably have to dig at least two feet deep.