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Hi to all,
I was wondering if anyone new if I could move a tree in my garden. Its a conifer, I call it a fir tree, don't know if this is a correct name,(fir tree) Any way it came in a pot and was one of those which they had cut into a spiral shape. I didn't want the spiral shape I wanted it to look natural. I popped it in the bed and left it to grow, it now has a natural shape and is about 8 to 9 feet tall. How ever the top is a spindle and needs cutting off but at the moment the ground is too soft for a ladder so we can't cut it.
What I would like to do is dig it up in its root ball (Hoping it has a root ball and not spread out roots going miles) and move it a few feet. Do you think this would be possible, Does it have a small root ball or long roots or is it impossible to tell.
I know if I did move it I would need to give it plenty of water. I really want to move it now and not wait till the autumn. I have no patients I'm sure you all realise this.
Any advice greatly appreciated.
The month of March is the best month to move to a new position any broad leaf evergreen or conifer that is badly placed. You can have a better chance of a successful transplant if you water heavily the plant to be moved every day for approx five days before moving. Organise that the new planting pit is dug before you even attempt to lift the transplant, this will minimise the time the transplants roots are exposed to the air. Lift the transplant with as much soil and fine root present as possible. When you come to replant it inspect the roots, if any are torn or damaged the trim them back. You should use a half topsoil and half compost back-fill mix for transplanting, work this around the transplant in the pit with your fingers to eliminate any air pockets.Water your transplant heavily and water well for their first year. If your tree is 8 - 9 ft tall then I would have expected the roots to have travelled, but a lot depends on the particular species of tree
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
many thanks for your reply.
I'll go for it.
I'll start watering now. I have plenty of great compost to add to the mix and I imagine a dose of "miracle grow" will help with the transplant shock?
Kind regards K.
Difficult to move without killing it and last thing it would want would be fertiliser like miracle grow until it was established if it did manage to survive.Wish you luck if you do move it.