How a large tree is transported

How a mature tree is transported is determined by the form of the specimen, its weight, the proportion between crown and rootball and the equipment available. There is no single lifting point that suits every tree.

The operation begins before the tree is lifted from the field. The rootball and the crown are measured, the centre of mass is estimated, the vehicle and crane are chosen and the route to the final position is confirmed.

The rootball accounts for a large part of the weight, but the crown can shift the centre of mass to one side. Multi-stems, leaning trees and trained forms rarely behave like a symmetrical load.

The team assesses where the tree tends to rotate when it is raised and what angle allows it to be moved without straining branches or breaking up the rootball.

In many operations, the specimen is transported and raised at an angle of about 45°. This position reduces the overall height, helps to balance crown and root and makes it easier to get the tree into the vehicle or the planting hole.

Lighter trees can be raised by the trunk with specialised padded slings, provided the bark, the diameter and the structure allow it.

The slings are positioned to spread the pressure and to balance the centre of mass between the crown and the rootball. Cables and narrow slings are not used directly on the bark.

The operation is watched closely. If the trunk turns inside the sling, if the protection shifts or if the tree loses its balance, the hold must be corrected before continuing.

With a multi-stem or a large shrub, choosing a single stem as the main point can distort the plant and concentrate too much stress.

With these forms, the slings can go round the rootball, passing under the root mass without squeezing or cutting into it. The protection should preserve the mesh, the hessian and the shape of the rootball.

When the crown creates an imbalance, a second padded support is added on a trunk or structural branch. This point does not necessarily take the main load; it serves to stabilise the plant and hold the chosen angle.

The position of the slings is chosen on the actual specimen, because two multi-stems of the same species can distribute their weight very differently.

With the heaviest specimens, the main load should stay at the rootball. Where specialised equipment is available, anchor points or hooks designed to work with the structure containing the rootball can be used.

Where that equipment is not available, a two-point hold is used: the main support is at the rootball and a padded sling on the trunk stabilises the tree, controls rotation and helps to keep the angle close to 45°.

The trunk should not take the weight of a tree of this size on its own. Its role is to guide and balance the load.

Forms very different from the usual — offset crowns, pleached trees, macro-bonsai or specimens with several leaning stems — may call for cradles, support structures and specific techniques.

Before the lift, the cohesion of the rootball and the fastening of the mesh and the hessian are checked. The soil should hold moisture, but not be so saturated that it deforms.

The slings must not cut the mesh, crush the base or press on the root collar. When they pass under the rootball, they need to spread the weight over a sufficient area.

The first lift is short. It serves to check the balance, the contact points and the behaviour of the mass before the tree is moved away from the ground.

The branches are drawn in gradually, respecting the flexibility and the structure of the species. In dormant deciduous trees, the absence of leaves reduces volume and wind resistance.

Fragile or widely projecting branches can be given their own support. The crown should not be compressed to the point of losing the form built up in the nursery.

The trunk is protected with breathable materials. At Diaplant we use, depending on the specimen, reused coffee sacks, cotton mesh, coir and specific protection for work with slings.

The vehicle body needs to carry the weight and allow secure fixing. The rootball is supported and chocked so that it cannot roll; the crown is given supports at the points that could vibrate or break.

The tree is positioned to reduce height, width and exposure to wind. When several specimens travel together, the loading takes account of the order of unloading, the compatibility between crowns and the distribution of weight on the vehicle.

The securing straps steady the load without crushing branches, trunks or rootballs.

Bridges, cables, tunnels, toll plazas, bends and weight restrictions are checked before departure. The shortest route is not always the safest.

Very large loads may require permits, an escort or specific hours.

The movement of the vehicle creates a continuous wind over the plant. On long journeys, the moisture of the rootball and the tension of the straps are checked at safe stopping places.

The site receives the identification of the specimen, the estimated weight, the orientation of the crown and the planned slinging arrangement.

The crane needs the capacity for the weight at the actual reach. The area for the outriggers must be clear and firm, and the overhead path cannot cross cables or incompatible structures.

Whenever possible, the tree goes straight from the lorry to the planting hole. While the crane holds part of the load, the orientation, the level and the upright position or intended lean are adjusted.

Only one person coordinates communication with the operator. Nobody stands under the load or between the rootball and a fixed structure.

Strong wind, unstable ground or loss of visibility are reason to stop the operation.

The lifting technique is always adapted to the specimen and to the equipment. Preserving the tree can never put the team at risk.

• How a tree is prepared before dispatch
• Access, crane and unloading
• Planting mature trees

1. European Arboricultural Standards. European Tree Planting Standard, 2025 revision.
2. Diaplant’s procedures for transport, loading and unloading.
3. Load charts and safety rules for the equipment used in each operation.