re: transplanting a tree

I had 4 camellia bushes in my side yard that I had to move so I could plant a garden. I did it in the middle of summer. Once I got a big, nice hole dug out in a part of the front yard where I wanted them, I carefully dug out a pretty big area around the bush, severing the roots about 2.5' from the center trunk. I took special care to try and leave as many of the small roots intact as possible. Hauled the bushes by hand from the side yard to the front, and covered each of the bases with a mound of dirt. Then I soaked them all and made sure to water them almost every day. I'd say they lasted about two months before they finally bit the dust, so it was pretty solid for two months before I had to pull them up (wasn't even that hard since the roots were all cut already) and then drag them out to the curb.