From Ground: First, carefully water the water tupelo plant until the soil around it is damp but not soggy. Then, dig around the plant using a shovel, trying your best to keep the root ball intact. Make sure you dig deep enough to get all the roots without damaging them. Then, gently lift the plant from its original location, ensuring to support the root ball to avoid it breaking up.
From Pot: Water the water tupelo in the pot before starting. To remove the plant from the pot, tip it gently to the side and use your hand to hold the plant near the base of the stem. Pull out the root ball slowly, making sure to retain as much of the root system as possible. If the plant does not slide out easily, tap the bottom of the pot to loosen the soil and try again.
Seedling Tray: The water tupelo seedling should be easily uprooted from the tray given its small size. Water the tray lightly and carefully lift the vulnerable seedling with a hand trowel, teasing out the roots if they're stuck.