Mark,
Your posts can be hysterical! I think Bob L should come up with two ratings - one for technical knowledge and one for just plain encouragement of site comradery. I would give you high ratings in both! There are so many days I feel overwhelmed by what should be a much simpler question - so, the responses I get here are always helpful and yours are ALSO very encouraging - thank you! But, if Bob could wave that magic wand in my direction, I would ask for only one thing... better soils!
Back to trees... yes, I have decided to hold off until the March/April transplant season when the trees are just starting to come out of dormancy. Hopefully the pond will be in by then and we will be better able to determine the exact location for the evergreens. According to the Arbor Foundation, the roots can go 25-40 feet. Therefore, we will plant further out than that. I am still so thankful to this site for warning me off moving the willow trees - saved several thousand dollars in moving costs and what sounded like MANY headaches in the future.
As to the depth - still waiting to hear back from the excavator about going deeper than 10' to take clay and move it onto the sides (another Bob L suggestion). My budget is already tight, so will just have to keep my fingers crossed!
