FAQs

We appreciate it when folks call ahead to make an appointment, but it's not necessary if you come during the week. Our hours are M-F, 8 am – 5 pm. On Saturdays, we are open by appointment. We are closed on Sundays.

Most of our customers are homeowners looking to add something to their landscape. We are open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm and Saturdays (by appointment). We are closed on Sundays. Click here for directions.

Yes! While most of our customers have us deliver, plant, and guarantee their trees since even our smallest available trees weigh 300-500lbs, we can load most of our smaller trees into your pick-up or trailer, so you can plant them yourself. We have easy-to-follow, step-by-step planting instructions to help you.

Yes, we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. We also accept checks and cash.

Yes. Since 1979, Big Trees Today has provided a generous one-year limited warranty on every tree sold and planted by Big Trees Today.

Yes, you must remove most stumps prior to planting. Contact us if you have questions.

While we always enjoy a thriving tree the most during the summer months, the best time to plant one is in the fall or winter. While gardening centers always put out big displays in the springtime to increase their sales, at Big Trees Today, we encourage buyers to visit us for their trees between October and May for optimal planting success. For convenience, it's easiest to dig a hole before the ground has completely frozen.

The reason fall, winter, or early spring is best suited to planting is that a freshly transplanted tree is thus more vulnerable and is at lower risk of drought or harsh sun damage. Cooler temperatures also encourage root growth, which is important for a transplanted tree to thrive in its new home. Depending on the exact variety of trees, our team can suggest an even more specific time window for ideal planting.

That said, we know that sometimes your needs don't always align with the seasons. We can also dig and plant trees throughout the summer months, as well as provide tips to help you nurture the tree at any time of year.

We field grow about 200 varieties of shade flowering and evergreen trees. To learn the advantages of field growing, see our BTT quality difference page. Our smallest trees are larger than trees you would find at a garden center. Our shade trees start at about 15 feet tall, and our evergreens start at about 10 feet tall.

Shade trees provide a beautiful way to make a house feel like home for generations or make a business seem inviting and warm. Oaks, elms, maples, and beeches are all types of shade trees, although the full list is even longer and includes trees that could mature to 50 feet in height and nearly as wide in diameter. These types of shade trees are well suited for an early spring planting, and our team can help you match the right tree to the right location on your property to maximize both the health of the tree and the benefits to you and your property. Visit the Shade Trees page in our Tree Gallery to see examples!

A mature, spreading shade tree is a beautiful legacy to leave on your property for both human guests and wildlife that thrive in its branches. But there are also great practical benefits to planting large shade trees on residential or commercial property.

The natural curb appeal of a mature tree that changes throughout all four seasons can have a real impact on your property value, boosting it by up to 20 percent. Of course, even if you don't move or plan to stay for many more years, you'll enjoy the benefit of a shady spot to sit, entertain, or garden daily.

Most importantly, a shade tree planted strategically in relation to your home acts as a natural form of insulation, cutting down on both your heating and cooling bills by up to 25 percent. Protecting your home from direct exposure to the elements will make a noticeable impact on the consistency and comfort level of the temperature inside.

Privacy trees have thick, usually evergreen foliage and low-spreading branches to give property owners a natural screen from unwanted viewers on the road or in the neighborhood. They can also dampen noise, wind, and exposure to harsh sunlight while naturally improving air quality.

Generally, evergreen trees work best as privacy trees. Most homeowners' privacy concerns are year-round, so a tree that maintains its green throughout the winter is especially desirable. However, you aren't limited to just evergreen trees. Find the right shade or privacy tree for you in our tree nursery!

Our fastest growing varieties of evergreen privacy trees are Cypress varieties (including Leyland, Castlewellan, Gold Rider, and Blue Ice) and Green Giant Cedar. The best options for immediate privacy and for future growth will depend on your available space and light.

When choosing the perfect privacy tree for you, there are many factors to consider. First, think about the height you want each tree to cover. Don't forget to check for power lines, roofing, patios, or anything else that the tree could eventually grow into. It will be much easier to anticipate problems before planting than to wait until maintenance becomes a problem. Another factor to consider is the width of the space where you want to plant. If you want some privacy trees in the narrow area between your house and a neighbor's, a tall, skinny tree may be the perfect choice for you. Once you've figured out the size, it's time to think about the kind of coverage you want. If your home is close to unsightly railroad tracks or another year-round eyesore, any evergreen tree could be an excellent choice. Some privacy trees can help with noise as well. If excessive noise is an issue for you, try a shade tree with long needles and dense branches that will absorb unwanted sound. Still not sure about which privacy trees will work for you? Visit Big Trees Today's tree nursery in Hillsboro, OR, to chat with a specialist!

The exact number of trees you'll need for your home is dependent on the length of space you want to cover and the size of the trees you choose. Another thing to consider is how long you can wait for complete privacy. Some of Big Trees Today's clients choose to buy smaller trees with the knowledge that they will eventually grow to their full height. Our tree specialists are happy to discuss your options with you. Visit our tree nursery in Hillsboro, OR, or get a quote to start exploring.

The right distance between trees depends on the kind of tree, available light, and your goals of immediate privacy vs allowing room for future growth. It's best to take measurements of the space you need to fill, and take a few photos of the area. Then come into our nursery and work with one of our tree experts about your goals and how we can best get you privacy today.

The exact maintenance your tree needs depends on the type you choose. General care for privacy trees is simple. Watering your plants is crucial, and you may want to install a sprinkler to get the job done. Big Trees Today has experts who can help you with your specific maintenance questions.

No trees are totally deer-resistant, but certain types are generally left alone by deer. Evergreens are unpleasant for deer to eat and are uncomfortable to touch. While deer may try to eat them during the winter when food is scarce, evergreens tend to be a safe choice for homeowners looking for something deer-resistant.

The most important thing to consider when transplanting a tree is the time of year. Transplanting can cause quite a shock for the tree, so it is best to transplant during low-stress seasons. While it is possible to replant in the wrong season, it can have significant impacts on the tree when stress factors are not properly mitigated. When you choose Big Trees Today to transplant your tree, we suggest doing so in the late fall, winter, or early spring. However, our team is well-equipped to help you at any time of the year. Regardless of the season, we can provide your tree with extra nourishment to help it thrive in its new home.

This all depends on the size of the tree you are trying to transplant on your property. If the root ball is 3ft or smaller, you could probably handle the tree transplant on your own. Anything larger will require unique professional tools to ensure the health of the tree after transplanting. When you have a larger tree transplant project, rely on Big Trees Today's expertise. We have the tools and knowledge to help. If you have questions before, during, or after your DIY tree transplant, please consider the tree's health and reach out to us!

We can transplant any size of the tree. The limiting factors for large tree transplanting are typical:

1. Budget. Transplanting trees much larger than about 15" trunk diameter (deciduous trees) or 40' tall (evergreen trees) gets very expensive quickly, as we're not able to use our mechanical tree spade to dig them. Custom hand-digging and moving trees by crane is possible and we've proven to be very successful, but it is costly.
2. Mobilization. Getting very large trees down the road is just not possible in some cases. We can get over-dimension permits for length and width, but overpasses on freeways are not very forgiving. Still, with creative planning, we can get very large trees down the road. But it is quite costly.
3. Replacement value. Since we are set up well to transplant trees from 5" trunk diameter up to approx. 15" diameter (depending on the type of tree), the cost of mobilizing our equipment for a very small transplant (<3-4" caliper) just doesn't make sense. On smaller trees, it usually makes more sense to either have a less-qualified landscaper transplant or just replace the tree.

 Typically, uprooted trees have root systems that are very damaged. They can sometimes be saved, but most frequently they cannot. Please contact us if you have an uprooted tree. We've been honest and upfront with our customers for over 40 years and can give you a straightforward assessment. We work with many arborists in the area, and we can recommend removing the tree. We would be happy to connect with you and provide a replacement tree.

Tree saplings can be easily transplanted by most homeowners. Since you typically want to have 10" of rootball diameter for every one inch of trunk diameter, these little trees can be moved with a shovel. Three important factors you want to keep in mind when transplanting a sapling are:

1. Transplant between November and March if possible. Transplanting during the dormant season makes it easier for trees.
2. Leave the top of the rootball approximately one inch above the surrounding grade.
3. Water your tree at least every other day, May through October, with one to two gallons per inch trunk diameter.

Following these easy steps can help ensure a successful transplant for your sapling. Of course, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to give us a call.

The best time to transplant evergreen trees is in the dormant season (typically November through March). At Big Trees Today, because of our root-pruning practice, we can transplant trees from our nursery any time of year. We typically don't move trees in the heat of summer if the forecast calls for the temperatures to be over 85 degrees for that day.

You can expect about a 95 percent survival rate when Big Trees Today handles your tree transplant. Using an appropriate ratio when performing a tree transplant helps the survival of your tree in its new location. We try to stay within a 1:10 ratio of the trunk to root ball when using our tree spade to get the root ball out of the ground. For example, if you have an 8-inch diameter trunk, we will need an 80-inch root ball, and our 90-inch diameter tree spade will be perfect for getting the job done.

There are three factors determining whether we can perform a tree transplant: the trunk diameter, canopy spread, and whether limbs need to be removed. Once we consider these three aspects of the tree, we can either move forward or figure out another solution for your tree project. We've helped Hillsboro, OR, for more than 40 years find the right tree solutions. Our experience and knowledge help us ensure we can complete your tree transplant if at all possible, and the tree will survive for many years after we finish the job.

The professionals at Big Trees Today will set up stakes around your recently transplanted trees when necessary to help give them support while the roots spread and take hold. Having this stabilization helps the tree stand and grow straight. The tree needs the roots to perform this naturally, so we also suggest leaving the stakes attached for a year (unless otherwise recommended).

Your soil type will be the determining factor, but thanks to our knowledge and experience, we can help you establish a watering schedule after we finish. The transplanted tree's root system needs to absorb water and oxygen. You want to keep the roots wet, but not soaked. Soaking the roots will prevent them from obtaining oxygen. You should also avoid letting the ground get too dry. If you can clump together the dirt in your hands with soil from 2 inches below the top level, you need to water again. We will help with the health treatments you need to perform after we're finished.