I live in southern Michigan. This summer a mimosa tree started growing in one of my gardens. A month ago it was about 5 inches tall and I almost pulled it out thinking it was a weed. However I had several plants given to me last summer that are sprouting new plants this year. So I left it alone. It is now 4 ft. tall. The only reason I knew it was a mimosa is the leaves close up at night. Now I don't know what to do with it??

The tree is about 3 ft. from the house in a sun garden, 4 ft. from the stairs to the front door and right next to my Calla Lilies....it gets a lot of sun. I have read about transplanting a mimosa and it sounds like no matter what I do at this point I will kill it. But, I would love to have one growing in the middle of my lawn on the opposite side of the driveway. I have about 2 acres of lawn on that side. Is there a way to transplant one of this size without killing it? If I wait for cool weather in another 2 months this tree will be big!!!

One of the articles I read said to mix the soil with Sphagnum peat moss at a ratio of 1 peat moss to 4 soil. Another article said to use Nitrogen rich fertilizer. This afternoon I'll test the soil samples that I want to put the tree in.

I'm not sure that's a Mimosa Tree. But if it is, its not cold hardy in your area.

That doesn't look like the ones here but its close. We consider these to be weed trees because they are prolific. They are also messy & drop their little Parasol flowers on the ground so they need to be away from buildings & vehicles.

I am with Kathy on this - I am not sure that it is a Mimosa Tree, but if you find out that it is then I would surely move it away from the foundation of any building as Mimosa's will grow tall and could crack your cement

Thank you everyone for the info. I didn't think mimosa's grew in this area, but then I saw the leaves close up and couldn't find anything on the web about that certain weed. Again thank you and I am going out now to snatch that thing out of my garden!!

It could be a plant from the actual Mimosa genus. Do the leaves fold when you touch them? If so, compre to M. pudica (sensitive plant.)

I spent a lot of time online [yesterday] trying to figure out if you had Gleditsia...
I couldn't really decide... but... honey locust does grow in MI, and some sites claim that the two trees look alike.

Excellent suggestion. The sensitive plant I suggested would have had to have come from a stray seed in a nursery pot or potting soil (from a warmer climate.)

Even if it is something you decide you want to keep, I wouldn't advise moving any plant out to the middle of a 2 acre lawn in July. You'd absolutely have to wait until fall after it drops its leaves.

Not sure what that is, but do not think that it is Albizia julibrissin Mimosa tree. I have grown hundreds. Zone 5b

If it is a tree, you do not want it that close to the house.

Perhaps move it this Fall and see what happens - that is what I often do.