Moving an Apple Tree

[Westi]

My Red Love apple tree is in the wrong place at home & I want to move it. I made an observation ducking under it constantly over summer that it is a great natural specimen for training against a wall - there is not a branch growing out the back of it, it has 3 lateral branches on one side and 2 on the other and 1 branch out the front, which Is not central so could train it I think to have 3 branches each side.

The obvious question now - when do I move it? Do I prune it first? Do I go for training the front one to make 3 each side - it's barely 2 inches thick that front branch. It will be growing up the side of the garage so has a concrete foundation under the other side so how far from wall should I plant it, and do I plant it on a slant back to the wall?

Basically everything you can help with appreciated. I am quite excited noticing this abnormality & would like to try it.

Westi

[peter]

Don't move or prune until it is dormant.
2" thick will not bend, it will snap if you try bending it and could break the trunk in the process.
Cutting it back may yield a fresh shoot that could be trained.
Tight against the wall or foundation will be fine.

My dad moved all sorts of things one ten foot high 6" thick apple tree in the mid seventies, looked like a big stick with some short stubs at each end.
When I sold the place in 2007 it was a heavy cropping twenty foot full standard.

[Westi]

Thanks Peter that is useful.

It will be dormant as I have to move some roses and other stuff first (still in bloom so got some time) & put up some wires or Gripple thing. Do I take a root ball with the soil or bare root plant it? Sorry in advance, something else will pop into my brain to ask.

Thanks again,
Westi

[peter]

More roots the better it's chances.

[Westi]

Another question - I did warn you!

What about the vertical leader - how much do I trim that down?

Westi

[peter]

Stay well above the graft union, other than that up to you, but more you cut the more you'll be waiting gor regrowth.