While trying to catch up on my very neglected yard I have come across a fair number of cedar babies that have sown themselves. I would like to put them on the property line. Do I have to get the whole tap root or will they be OK if I don't??? I'm also finding hollys that I'd like to move. Do they have a tap root too?

I don't know about the hollies but the cedars with their taproots are crazy hard to move. I've tried it numerous times and have never succeeded.

Thanks Dave. Worth a try as they really can't stay where they are and I don't want to just pitch them...I like my cedars.

Maybe it's location, but I've transplanted both with no failure - to the point that I'm now shaded by 3 large hollies and 2 huge cedars. I moved a couple of small seedlings from Bardstown in central KY to my home in W KY, and I swear they didn't miss a beat though there is a zone or two of climate difference. I got a lot of the root, but really didn't pay a lot of attention to how much. They were only about a foot or two tall. I made all these changes in late fall, so that might have made a difference. Our winters might be much wetter than Dave's, too, and allowed them to acclimate through several months without torture. Or maybe it was because they were so tiny to begin with.

Same with the hollies, but I only moved them from one place to the other within my own yard. If I were you, Gin, I'd wait till it's cooler before trying, but it surely is worth trying, I think.

OK I'll wait...what's one more thing to put off

You might be thinking now about where you'll plant them; you could be working on soil amendments between now and then if that is needed. See - I have to plan ahead or I'd never get anything done.

And water water water them after you've attempted your move. At least 3 good soakings per week.

Water always seems to be the key to a good take when transplanting evergreen trees.
They hate to have dry roots , I take a bucket of water when digging and drop them in even for transplant to a near location.
Also you can get a nice deep dig if you use a tile spade.

In spring 2012, while helping a friend weed her daylily beds, I dug up an eastern red cedar seedling that was maybe six inches tall. Brought it home with me that night and planted it in my yard the next day. It's still here, and it's at least twice as tall as it was when I brought it home. I didn't pay any attention to whether it had a tap root or not, or whether I got all of it or not. It was out of the ground, NOT in a bucket of water, for several hours while I helped my friend weed, and then for the 30 mile drive home. I don't remember doing anything special to help it settle in, but I *do* have a soaker hose around the perimeter of the bed where I planted it.

If you soak the ground the day before, really well, it will be that much easier to get most of the root.
I too have dug up seedlings, some as tall as 3 feet, with no adverse affects on the tree.
I agree with Sharon on doing it in the fall.

Great tip, Lynn, on the pre-soak when digging up. I've never thought of that, but makes perfect sense. I also pre-soak my planting hole before settling the new plant in, these youngsters just can't get too much water if you ask me.

It's worth pointing out that there are many unrelated plants called "cedar", and what works for one may not work for another.

I'm definitely in the "try it and see" camp.

Lots of very good info. Thank you all so much