I want to put in a bur oak to start growing to replace the silverleaf maple that will probably die due to its age in the next few years.

I have a volunteer bur oak in my garden that's two years old and about two-and-a-half feet tall. Any recommendations on whether I could successfully transplant that or if I'd be better off to just buy one from the nursery?

Thanks, Lelon

Personally, the only advantage that I can see in buying one is that you can get one that's larger, and be a couple of years ahead of the one you already have. If that doesn't bother you, then go for the free one.

I wanted to get the tree in and started this fall. My main question was how successful transplanting was likely to be. I live in Denton with clay soil. The chances of keeping any rootball intact are probably small, so the odds are it would just be bare roots moving to the new location.