Moving established fruit trees?

[Snadger]

I have abouit a dozen mixed apple and pear trees which I have established as 45 degree cordons along the edge of my old plot. They were originally purchased from Aldi and such like and have been planted for about four years. The trunk diameters will be about 50mm.

Rather than leave them, I thought about bringing them to my new plot once they have lost there leaves. I could dig a large rootball but wonderd how successful this would be and could I take them back to the vertical form?
Would they react badly to 'stocking topping' them to 18" to 2 foot do you reckon or would it be best leaving them there full 5 to 6 foot height?

I don't even know where on my new plot I will put them, but it seems a shame to leave them.

Just wondewred whether anyone had transplanted established trees and how they faired?

[Lardman]

Wait until they're properly dormant if you can (Dec / Jan). The aldi trees of old are likely to be on m26 so I would expect a huge rootball yet, you'd be surprised how little they put down, especially if you've cordoned them. I wouldn't think they'll be too grumpy if you take as much root as you can and move them whilst they're asleep.

You may need to remove some fruit next year so it doesn't over stress the system before it has had chance to regrow but I wouldn't be overly concerned about it. It's not like you have a lot to lose anyway.

[BUFFS]

i lifted my aldi peach out of its big pot today, 50ltr+ , and its rootball was 18ins across and 14-16ins deep, that's about the same as the aldi apple I lifted out of the border last year. that one was just shifted to a better position after about 5/6yrs, the peach was lifted to take some of the taproot out, like bonsai. it will not grow much now, just put out small branches, which is what I am after, I did the apricot too and removed the shelving in the greenhouse to make room for the 3 new dwarf trees coming, ready to give more peaches, nectarines and apricots next year, roll on the new year, I would agree that its best to wait a bit , until after leaf fall is over and lift and shift as quick as you can, into tubs if you have nowhere ready , I hope the move works out for you..the transferred apple seemed to miss the fact it had been moved in the December as it cropped well..

[Snadger]

i lifted my aldi peach out of its big pot today, 50ltr+ , and its rootball was 18ins across and 14-16ins deep, that's about the same as the aldi apple I lifted out of the border last year. that one was just shifted to a better position after about 5/6yrs, the peach was lifted to take some of the taproot out, like bonsai. it will not grow much now, just put out small branches, which is what I am after, I did the apricot too and removed the shelving in the greenhouse to make room for the 3 new dwarf trees coming, ready to give more peaches, nectarines and apricots next year, roll on the new year, I would agree that its best to wait a bit , until after leaf fall is over and lift and shift as quick as you can, into tubs if you have nowhere ready , I hope the move works out for you..the transferred apple seemed to miss the fact it had been moved in the December as it cropped well..

Funnily enough, I have a peach tree in the greenhouse on the same plot planted into a large pot sunk into the ground. I may try and get that out as well but judging by its size the roos will be well out of the pot by now!

[BUFFS]

If you are prepared to lose a season or two of peaches then lift the tree and cut off the long thick roots and pot it into a 16/18ins pot and give it some protection, given a chance these plants want to live and prosper and will survive worse than some upheaval..my maple tree, an osakazukl (the one that goes pillar box red) has been dug up 4 times now as we have moved, always in the summer, and it is now a 6/7ft wide specimen, just starting to look lovely, another2/3 weeks and it will be a stunner, we have had neighbours come into the garden to take photos of it, one man thought it was a fake as the colour was so good..

[Snadger]

I may even try and move an established grapevine. The vine is about 6 years old, was originally planted in a large pot outside the greenhoue but judging by the amount of topgrowth must have burst through the pot at the bottom.
Once again, I have nowt to lose and I know from past experience that grapevines have an in built desire to live!

[lottie dolly]

I hope they have Snadger,i got 2 i need to move.