If you read that older post, you already know part of this story. For everyone else, here’s the rest. Back in 2007—right before we got married and long before we ever started this blog—my parents gave us a tiny Japanese maple. It began as a small 24″ offshoot that had popped up next to a large maple in their yard. We planted it in our backyard, wished it well, and over the next few years it grew a little, though we don’t have many photos from that time.
That little tree became meaningful to us—it had wedding memories attached and came from my childhood home—so before we sold that house we dug it up and brought it along to our next place. If you’re sensing a theme here, you’re right: this maple has moved with us a few times.
Because our previous move happened in winter, we assumed the transplant would be its end. To our relief, it survived. It put on a bit of new growth, though in photos it tended to disappear among other purple shrubs that filled the area around it.
When my parents later moved out of my childhood home, the maple became even more special to us, so of course we dug it up and brought it along again—this time it wasn’t quite as small. A practical tip we learned the hard way: if you plan to take a planted item with you when selling a house, remove it before showings. Anything left in the ground is typically assumed to convey with the property unless the sales contract states otherwise.
Uprooting the tree was straightforward. We dug a wide trench around it, eased the root ball free, and lifted it carefully. The root ball was still small enough to fit into a plastic bin I had on hand. It had gotten heavier since the last move, which is how Sherry caught this slightly unflattering shot of me hauling it up while a leaf was in my face.
We moved it to the new house immediately so it wouldn’t get in the way during showings. It barely fit in our car—the bin took up the backseat so Sherry had to squeeze in with maple leaves brushing her—so we joked about whether other drivers might mistake it for something illicit. Thankfully, nobody pulled us over. Whether that’s something to feel relieved or worried about, we still aren’t sure.
For a few weeks it sat in the new backyard while we finished moving and showed the house. Eventually we decided we had to get it planted before the makeshift setup stressed it out. The bin had drainage holes, but we knew it wasn’t a long-term solution. Choosing the planting spot required a bit of thought since we’re still figuring out our landscaping plan, but we picked a spot at the edge of the woods near our deck. It’s visible from the house and has room to grow without being crowded by other plants.
We planted it using a mix of compost and garden soil to give it a good start, and recent rains have helped settle the root zone. Transplanting in summer always carries some risk, so we’re keeping a close eye on it and giving it extra water during hot spells.
Our biggest concern has been the local deer population—we see a lot of them if you follow our Instagram—and they do nibble shrubs at times. So far the maple doesn’t seem appealing to them; I even caught one sniffing it and walking away. Fingers crossed it stays unbothered. If deer become a problem, temporary protection or repellents are options to consider.
Have you ever transplanted a sentimental plant or another cherished item that’s moved with you? We’re amazed this maple has now lived in four different yards, counting the place where it first sprouted. They really do seem to grow up fast—seriously sentimental stuff. If you’re planning to move a small tree, a few practical pointers: dig a wide area around the roots, keep the root ball intact, use quality soil and compost when replanting, make sure the pot or bin has drainage if it needs to wait, and provide consistent water until the roots re-establish. Good luck with your own plant rescues and transplant adventures.