Moving trees

[bargainhunter]

Morning, i have been offered a cherry tree - to be dug up, approx. 8 ft.
Is it the wrong time of year to do this?
It has buds on it but not flowered yet.
Also if i cannot move it now, can i purchase a tree be it cherry, apple, pear etc and plant it?
thanks

[shirlthegirl43]

A tree that size is going to take a lot of work to move. If I remember right you need to dig up the roots something like the height of the tree all round

Morrisons and other stores in our area are selling fruit trees - plum, apple, pear, cherry which are ready to plant now.

[mphenwood]

If your getting a free tree, move it. If it survives, you got a free tree. If it dies, you lost nothing.

Of course if you have the option to leave it is situ until the autumn then do so. Trees are better moved when their dorment.

At the risk of sounding smug, I've moved four trees onto my plot (from neighbouring plots (with the owners permission,of course)) in the last month, all seem to be doing OK.

Getting the tree out of the ground can be a challenge, but it may well be worth the effort.

Regards
Martin

[Jeanied]

It is quite a mature tree to move, so you will need to do it in stages which involves cutting a trench all round and severing the large roots spreading outside the canopy. I've never tried this myself but have seen it on the TV - found this link maybe it will help.
Shrub and Tree Transplanting

[Glutton4...]

I'd say it's too late, as it has started to bud. Unless it is in a container, obviously! Moving it when it is dormant (winter) would be a better bet. Depending on the soil, and how long it has been there, the root system may be nearly as big as the canopy. I wouldn't move it until after the leaves have fallen, say November to February. I think moving it and killing it is a waste of a tree - but that's just me!

[FB.]

To move it now would cause severe shock and probably badly affect or even kill the tree. The open buds need everything the roots can supply them at this time of year. If you disturb the roots, you will starve the newly-opened buds and the tree will suffer dieback or total death.

It might have been possible to move it before the buds began to open (November-March is the correct time), but it is a major job to dig out an 8ft tree and it will take a couple of years to re-grow the damaged roots, so would require plenty of watering for a couple of seasons after the transplant.

Planting a container-grown tree is not a problem, but it won't beging to establish until the autumn, when the next major spurt of root growth starts (tree have their main spurts of root growth when the leaves beging to fall and just before the buds start to open - at other times, all energy goes into shoot growth).

[bargainhunter]

Thank you all for the most valuable advice, i think i shall leave the tree until the autumn just to be safe

But on the plus side i will have lots of help to move it then.

I know my trouble is im impatient, i see something or think of something and want it now!

[BFG]

You're probably in the wrong hobby then. Gardening is all about patience. All good things...

[bargainhunter]

You're probably in the wrong hobby then. Gardening is all about patience. All good things...

Any suggestions?

[sarraceniac]

Any suggestions?

Bungee jumping?