Transplant or leave it

[noob72]

I have two trees in ground ready to be trunk chopped. The trunks are well developed and ready to start the tapering process. One is a river birch and the other is a dogwood.

My question is do I leave them in the ground where they are for a couple of seasons after trunk chop considering the special circumstances below.

The river birch is next to a significantly more developed river birch in an already partially shaded area, so it won't get any direct sunlight once it is chopped. Should I leave it where it is, or transplant it to a sunny spot when I do the trunk chop. If I should move it, should I put it in a large planter or plant it in the ground in a sunny spot in the yard. It will likely spend 2 to 3 years in its new location before moving to a training pot.

The dogwood is also in a shaddy spot, but is thriving there as is. Being an understory tree this is not surprising. Same question though. Should I move it to a spot with some morning sun to encourage faster growth. And if so, large pot or in ground. This will also live in decided location for 2 to 3 years before moving to a training pot. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Just keep them where they are if they've been doing OK.
Just to make it clear, you don't plan on chopping them before spring, right? They might leaf out in response to the chop and get frost damage in winter if you plan on chopping soon.

 

[noob72]

Correct, I will be chopping them in spring. I just worry that the river birch won't thrive in such shaddy conditions.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I hear your concerns, my concern would be that it's birch... And birches tend to give up easily.
So digging it and chopping it would potentially be more risky than either separately.
Is there no way to remove the one that is shading the other? Transplant that one to a different site so the chopped one gets a little more light?

 

[noob72]

No, the other one is significantly larger, and I want to keep it where it is. The one I plan to harvest is a few years younger. I have heard similarly that river birch can struggle with recovering. I may just need to leave it as is until ready for transplant a few years after trunk chop.