Apple tree question

[valley]

Greetings, There are a couple apple trees at the ranch in mountains. Can I just dig them out, keeping the roots damp, and take them bare roots down to the lower ranch and plant them? They haven't sprouted yet and the ground up there is still frozen. Thanks

 

[forgeblast]

you could buy some rootstock and graft them.

 

[20 20]

I have done this and it has worked, with healthy trees. I have even done it in the middle of summer . I've done it with not so healthy trees and lost them, chances are they probably would have died anyway. I'm definately not a green thumb pro so hopefully some of our dendrologist can chime in.

 

[Gordon Gould]

What I have seen done is to take a spade and drive it into the ground all the way around the tree at a diameter that you can carry as a root ball. This cuts the out side fine roots and forces new root growth closer to the tree. This is a good time of year for it. Then next year dig up the tree and root ball and move it to the new location.
If it is a very small tree and you can get most of the roots you can just dig it up and move it now like you said. Water it alot after the move for several weeks.

 

[20 20]

you could buy some rootstock and graft them.

You know what else works just as good, if not better, as a rootstock, bee honey. It has to be the real stuff not the cornsyrup sold in chain grocery stores. I dilute it down with boiling water, does two things, makes it easier to stir plus kills all bacteria etc... Let it cool tip you cutting into it then plant

 

[forgeblast]

20/20 do you ever have a problem with ants getting in there or do you still tape over the graft and they cant get in. Very neat idea btw.

 

[20 20]

I've never had the problem with ants, but I've only done it a few times so maybe I'm just lucky.

 

[dodge man]

I think if you do dig it out, you are suppose to prune the branches back to match the size of the root ball you get. If its a small tree, probably not a concern.

 

[dex3361]

The bigger the size of the trunk the less success you will have. The problem is that the bigger tree is heavy and you will destroy the fine feeder roots moving the tree. If the trunk is larger than 1 inch you would be better off either grafting onto an existing tree or buy a good quality tree.
When I graft I just use black electrical tape over the graft. Didnt have much success at first maybe 15%. After improving my method I am at about 85% success rate on grafting.:thumbsup: