Moving trees

[robmarston]

Not sure if this is the right thread for this question but can't find much about trees here. However, I have a Kilmarnock willow in the garden that I planted 2 years ago. It's not doing too well and I want to move it to another spot. Can anyone advise whether it's possible, when would be best to do it and any other things I need to be careful of? Any help most greatly appreciated 😀


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[roitelet]

Wait until it is dormant and take out as big a root ball as you can and it should be fine.

[Knight of Albion]

Definitely not the time to be doing any tree work. Wait at least until the autumn when the sap is receding.

Two years old? How high is the tree?

A willow? They are a moisture loving tree and as such they have well developed root systems, so transplanting one won't be easy. As the tree is still young, if you can dig out the main root ball you should get away with it.

Take it easy though. Transplanting trees is one of those jobs were a gardener can do themselves a mischief. A lot of tugging and straining...

[robmarston]

It's a grafted Kilmarnock so only about 4ft high. It's near a hedgerow at the moment and in a rather dry area of the garden and hasn't grown much this year. The foilage is much sparser than it should be. The place I want to move it is a more open area that can get a bit waterlogged when we get prolonged heavy rain and I'm thinking this would suit it better. Should I move it midwinter or as soon as the leaves have dropped?


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[WendyC]

I'd move it before midwinter as the soil will still have some warmth and give the roots a chance to grow before winter. I'd recommend mycorrhizal fungi to help it get established and I think you might need to stake it to give the roots a chance to establish.

[Knight of Albion]

I'd leave it to late October/early November, ideally a bit later, but it depends on the weather and wheter its frosty.

Four feet? Not that big then. You should be able to get it out.