Can you transplant an old tree without damaging it? Yes you can, but you should get a specialist to do it.
Tree nurseries often offer very old trees that can be planted in private gardens. So it is already clear that you can transplant an old tree. However, these trees and shrubs in tree nurseries are transplanted every three to four years, known in technical jargon as overtraining.
If the trees are professionally trained here, the outer root areas are removed at the same time and the remaining ones are stimulated to form new suction roots. With this regular training, a compact and well-rooted ball is achieved, which ultimately gives the tree a good chance of growth at the last location in the private garden.
Get a specialist to transplant the tree
If, on the other hand, old trees that have never been trained are transplanted in your own garden, the risks are much higher. The root system has not been pruned here, so it is less dense and in the worst case, not even a compact ball can be cut out when transplanting.
If you want to transplant an old tree in your own garden, you should never do this on your own, but instead hire a specialized company so that the tree survives the move safely and without subsequent damage.