Planting fruit trees

[Eden]

Hi there,
I could do with a bit of advice here, over the past couple of years I have bought various fruit trees, 3 apple (1 cooker), 1 plum, 1 damson and a cherry. At the moment they are in my garden in big pots but I'm wondering if I should plant them in my allotment - the only problem is that we are hoping to move in the next couple of years and might have to give up my plot if we move out of the village. The trees cost me over £100 so I really don't want to lose them, would I be able to dig them out if I need to move? I think they would grow much better in the earth, any advice much appreciated!!!
Eden

[pigletwillie]

You can buy root bags which will restrict the growth of the tree and keep the root ball to a cetain size making them easy to dig up and relocate at a later date. That is best done when dormant during the winter.

[broadway]

Hello Piglet,

Fairly new to this and this sounds a good idea and one that may help me as well. I've tried to google root bags without much luck, do you know any suppliers?

Cheers..........Danny

[bluemoon]

Thanks Eden, I was just about to ask this question myself, although we have no plans to give up our plot so ours should be ok without root-bags. We have had our trees in pots from as much as 4 years to as little as six months and I too feel they would be better in the ground. As no-one seems to think this is a bad idea I'll do it this weekend. The trees are all on dwarfing root-stocks, am I right in thinking that these have to be staked throughout their lives?
Bluemoon

[Eden]

would it be safe to dig up the tree in the dormant months if I planted without a rootbag. And, what about moving a tree in the summer? A real no-no?? Even if as much soil is kept round root-ball?

[pigletwillie]

Try this Eden,

Rootex - root control bags an barrier

[Flummery]

Thanks Eden, I was just about to ask this question myself, although we have no plans to give up our plot so ours should be ok without root-bags. We have had our trees in pots from as much as 4 years to as little as six months and I too feel they would be better in the ground. As no-one seems to think this is a bad idea I'll do it this weekend. The trees are all on dwarfing root-stocks, am I right in thinking that these have to be staked throughout their lives?
Bluemoon

If they are VERY dwarfing - e.g. apples on M27 - then the nurseries do recommend that they are permanently staked. I guess this is because the rootball is necessarily very small.

[Eden]

Thanks for the link Piglet, looks like I know what I'll be asking for xmas from Santa!! No sexy undies or perfume, just rootbags for me!!!!

[SimonCole]

I don't think rootbags are very much of a solution. You're going to have a hard job moving 6 trees with a blocks of earth on the end, and you have to pay for the bags.
I would simply sell the trees on ebay and buy new ones. Prices are high right now and people would collect them.