Transplanting seedlings within the nursery and letting them grow for a year or two produces stocky plants with dense root masses and no tap root. Before new growth has emerged, use a garden fork to move seedlings to transplant beds or containers. Take care to avoid damaging roots or branches.

On seedlings under 2 ft. (60 cm), prune roots longer than 6 in. (15 cm) with hand pruners or a pair of sharp scissors. Seedlings with split roots or other major defects should be discarded. Prune multiple leaders (the growing tips of the plant) to a single stem. Roots MUST NOT be allowed to dry out. They can be bunched together in wet moss and burlap, dipped in thin mud, or placed in a bucket of water. It is best to dig up small amounts of seedlings and transplant them quickly. Plant seedlings in rows across the bed. A handy tool is a 6 in. (15 cm) wide board, 3 ft. (90 cm) long, marked off in increments of three, four and five inches (7.5, 10 and 12.5 cm). Using a spade, dig a trench next to the board deep enough to hold the roots. The side nearest the board should be vertical. Place seedlings against the vertical wall of the trench at the same depth as they grew in the seedbed, indicated by a slight change in bark colour at the root collar. Roots should be spread out evenly, not twisted or L-shaped. Spacing differs for each species, but use the markings on the board to ensure each is the same distance apart. Replace soil and firm around transplants to eliminate air pockets. Water deeply. Transplanting should be done in the evening or on a cloudy or rainy day. The greatest risk is loss of water from shoots, especially if roots have been damaged in transplanting. If you must transplant seedlings after they have leafed out, prune immediately to reduce the area from which water loss can occur. Trim off about 30% of each branch but avoid cutting the leader if at all possible (this is less crucial for shrubs than trees).

Treat transplants as you would new seedlings a deep weekly watering and regular weeding are essential. A 1/2 in. (1.3 cm) mulch of eelgrass, leaf mould or composted bark keeps weeds down and conserves moisture.