Transplanting a cherry tree - possible?

2nstonge · Oct 2, 2005

I'm located in southern Vermont (near the NY and MA border) and here's my dilemma. I have a 10-12 ft tall cherry tree (loaded with cherries) but it's located on another property that I own about a mile away. It's in the way for some long overdue renovation work to the house so it either has to move - all in one piece with the roots attached or in 16 inch lengths for the wood pile. The local landscaper wants $250 to move it, I can buy a new one at about the same maturity level for that much cash. I hate to cut it down and am willing to spend a day to move it, my questions are;

1. Can I safely move it this time of year - no frost yet but definitely getting cooler, quicker?
2. If I can move it, how big of a rootball should I take?
3. Should I plant it or leave it bagged and surround it with compost and topsoil for the winter?

Any other words of wisdom are appreciated.

Thanks, -Norm

inveresk · Oct 2, 2005

Moving mature trees is risky. Even if your landscaper moves it, there's a better than average chance that it will not survive the shock. To minimise this, you have to make sure the tree is dormant. My fruit trees aren't yet and you'd better your odds if you wait a bit. You should also prune it, make sure the spot you're moving it to is a good one, take as much root ball as you possibly can and make sure the hole you drop it into has been properly prepared and fertilized. I like to make sure they have the same orientation in the new location. I figure the tree knows where the sun rises and sets and if you change this it will be confused which will increase the shock of relocation. Lastly, you have to make sure you anchor it very well. Being whipped around in winter winds can easily rock the root ball so until it can send out good root achors in time, you need a minimum of three strong cable ties tightly secured. By all means try it - you've nothing to lose but some of your time and you'll get a feel good reward if you can pull it off. Here's a link that should help you plan the move.

tree moving

meledward23 · Oct 3, 2005

Ummm Transplanting a Cherry, well let's see I I plant thousands of trees per year with an average of about 2% loss rate. The Cherry is marginally higher at 21%.

Cherries in general are difficult to move. The risk of this time of year is probably lower than others but not as good if it were dormant. I presume as late as the season is that your fruit is rippened.

Water is important. The tree needs to be watered in before you dig it. Many people water it once the day before and then the morning of the move,if you move it later in the day. You dont want to soak the dirt making mud, but you want the tree to get full on the water so that when you whack it's roots it is stocked up.

The biggest rootball you can manage is ideal. Heigh is not as a big indicator as the diameter of the tree. Basically at 6" off the ground. 10" of rootball diameter per inch of caliper is the minimum per ANSI standards on moving a tree. I would go 12" Min. Personally for a project like this. The tree can survive with a smaller ball. In fact you would be better off moving a smaller ball if that means you can move it more fluidly, less jerking and causeing the tree to break the rootball up, as this tears the roots in the ball.

Best of Luck,

Matthew
Hoticulturist
CLP