Plum tree advice

[Baldy]

One of our site plots was a permaculture orchard - its been vacant for a year or two and no-one wants to take it on - so it looks like the majority of trees will be taken down. To be honest the only ones that are any good are a crab apple and plum tree - the other have suffered from disease and probably need removing anyway.
I could host the plum tree on my plot - from what I've read this isn't the best time of year to move it but if its going to get saved then I probably have to do it in the next couple of weeks.
Any particular advice to help its chances of survival?

TIA

[BUFFS]

when I had to lift a good sized crab apple tree about this time of year, I got advice from an old gent. he told me to really drench around the roots each day for 3 days, lift as much of the rootball intact as you can, all the water helps hold it together, slide it onto a tarpaulin and tightly wrap it around the roots, I slid it across the other end of the garden to its prepared new home, and slid it in, I don't think it even realised it had been moved. I think the secret is in the roots being loaded with water stops it being so stressed, anyway, it worked for me, and the old gent had been gardening for over 60yrs he was proud to tell me, so good luck with it, after all, given a reasonable chance, plants just want to survive don't they..

[nickdub]

very good advice given by Buffs already - I'd just add 3 things :-
a) dig the hole in which you are going to put the tree before you lift it from where it is
b) get a big heavy pole like a fence post, and after moving the tree, tamp the earth down around the roots as hard as you can
c) put in a long stake at 45 degrees to tie the trunk to using something like a nylon bandage (which is strong but won't rub the bark) in a figure of 8.

[Baldy]

Thanks - all being well I'll start the new hole today and soak the tree - will probably have to actually move it tomorrow so a bit more rushed than either I or the tree would like - but, as said, it wants to live so fingers crossed

[BUFFS]

[QUOTE=Baldy;1619387]Thanks
As long as you give it plenty of water today, with the cooler weather you should be fine..