Moving maples

The south side of the house is the perfect, and only, place for roses and jasmine. Much of the small space (perhaps 15' x 4') is taken up by an Acer palmatum dissectum, perhaps "Burgundy Lace," in the middle of this photo. Japanese maples mostly grow quite slowly. This one hasn't put on much height in the 10 years I've known it, but its weeping branches grow like Rapunzel's hair. I tip-pruned it two years ago and now it's completely shaggy and hanging to the ground again. I'd love to move it but am not sure where.

The last time I moved a Japanese maple -- a "Hogyoku" that had been in the ground only three years -- it took some manly help, an hour, two spades, a shovel and – it would have been a lot harder without this – a crowbar. Also, a pair of pruners and a pair of loppers. And several compromising positions on my part, pulling hard around the bottom of the trunk while Rob pushed up the rootball with the crowbar. It was the farthest thing from a gentle upheaving. “Hogyoku” was left with a rootball the size of a very large pumpkin. We spoke to it kindly, encouraged it to flourish, amended its new home with soil from its old spot and a bag of steer compost, watered it in well with just a hint of Miracle Grow, spread our fingers and urged it to "Live long and prosper." That was in early February, 2004, and here it is today: