It's a shame to lose any tree

It's not every day that you see a fully-grown tree on a low-loader crossing the motorway. Last Wednesday evening, this special spectacle presented itself: a field maple was relocated within the municipality of Hünenberg.

A rare sight presented itself in Hünenberg Bösch on Wednesday evening last week. A field maple tree that was more than 40 years old, nine metres high and weighing more than five tons floated through the air, carried by a pneumatic crane and secured by the experts from Neumüller Gärten GmbH.

With the utmost precision, it was gently placed centimetre by centimetre on the waiting truck, supported and padded, and the branches were tied together as best as possible, so that the special transport could maintain the required dimensions. For protection, the root ball was already covered in a coarse-meshed net so that the weight load was distributed as evenly as possible.

The truck then drove at low speed with an escort to the Matten schoolhouse on the Reuss plain, where the old tree's new home is located. Due to the excess width of the transport, a road closure was necessary.

The tree had to be moved due to lack of space
“We didn't want to cut it down just because we needed the space,” says horticultural technician Juli Schnurrenberger from Neumüller Gärten GmbH. The 14-year-old company had grown, and needed additional storage space, and a high-bay warehouse had been built near the maple tree. “It was in the middle of the space where we have to manoeuvre with the delivery vans and forklift trucks.” This was inconvenient for the gardening professionals and harmful to the tree. So the decision was made to relocate it.

A pneumatic crane lifts the five-ton tree, secured with straps and belts so that it cannot tip over
Placing the field maple on the low-loader is precision work that requires the skills of all the specialists
The tree is laid down very carefully, padded and the branches are carefully tied together
Photos: Mathias Blattmann 

“A tree of this age and size is of considerable value,” explains Juli Schnurrenberger. “We asked potential interested parties in the region, and offered to give them the tree as a gift if they would cover the transportation costs.” In the end, the municipality of Hünenberg took up the offer.

“When we received the request from the nursery, it was immediately clear to us that we would find a suitable place for this tree,” emphasizes municipal councillor Jeffrey Illi, Head of Safety and Environment. Instead of planting a new tree, the stately field maple near the Matten school building would offer valuable shade right from the start - perfect for break times or outdoor lessons. “We’re delighted that we were able to make the replanting possible.” The municipality is open to helping with further initiatives. 

But what about the saying: “You don't transplant an old tree”? This is certainly true, says Juli Schnurrenberger. “But if you proceed carefully, it’s possible to move it.”

Before they knew where to put it, his colleagues dug the tree out of the ground in winter - during its dormant period. The nature of the soil suited them perfectly. “There was a layer of clay at a depth of 60 centimetres, which had prevented the roots from spreading deeply. This meant that the roots were rather short, and the tree could be dug out quite easily.”
In terms of timing, the relocation was ideal for the field maple. “It can take root again in the new location in the spring, which would hardly have been possible in the summer.” There is, however, no guarantee that it will grow again in the new location.

Sunscreen for trees
It helps if the new location is similar to the old one in terms of soil and sun/shade conditions. “For example, if a tree has been standing close to a shade provider, but is then exposed to strong sunlight at its new location, its dark bark may heat up too much and too quickly during the winter and burst open.”

It can be protected from this, however. “You paint the tree trunks with white trunk protection paint. This then acts like sunscreen.” In this case, the maple will actually be a little more exposed, but the best place has been chosen within the given possibilities, so this measure is not necessary.

The excavation at the target location has been prepared so that the tree can be re-planted directly the morning after transport. ‘We will certainly take care of it for at least the first year after transplanting,’ promises the gardening professional. This means keeping a close eye on it like a young plant, watering it and ensuring that there is no waterlogging. ‘That way, we have the best chance of it taking root again in its new location and living on for many years to come.’

Video from Mathias Blattmann and Linus Bauer showing the more than 40-year-old field maple tree being moved in Hünenberg.
Video: https://www.zugerzeitung.ch/zentralschweiz/zug/huenenberg-um-jeden-baum-der-gehen-muss-ist-es-schade-rettungsaktion-fuer-einen-ueber-40-jaehrigen-neun-meter-hohen-feldahorn-ld.2755146