Kitchen Garden Forum

Two question in one day..certainly a first for me.

I have a small Greengage tree that currently stands about seven feet tall and it is in the wrong place (a fruit cage)

Unless I move it the branches will be through the roof of the cage next year.

Any tips on when is the best time to move it and the best way to carry out the move to minimise the trauma?

I'm sure this isn't the best way to do it, but its what we did with our plum tree. We moved it in February, two years ago, and basically just dug it up, having prepared a new planting hole elsewhere. We firmed it in well and occassionally watered it for a couple of months. The first year it didn't fruit but put on lots of growth. This year it has done both and looks very healthy. Make sure you remember to re-stake the tree.
I think what you're meant to do when moving something hefty is to dig a trench around the plant, cutting through the root system, then backfill with a composty mix. This encourages the plant to make lots of roots within its 'rootball'. I think you're meant to do this the year before you want to move it.

Hi Weed,
Many many years ago I sowed an apple pip which grew into a rather nice eater and when I wanted to move some thirty odd years ago I decided to take the tree with me. As I recollect the tree was about 12 years old and took some moving but that tree is still in my orchard. I dug round the tree and cut all the roots on a 2ft radius. Quite severely pruned it back and needed a forklift truck to put onto my trailer.
Didn't have a forklift truck this end and went down to the pub and hired 6 lads to help me get it into position. It is a Full Standard and today stands about 35ft tall and it still thrives. I moved the tree in November. Staked it well and with four anchor ropes and it took three years before it actually gave fruit. Your tree is considerably smaller and I feel sure that if done quickly your tree will not know that it has even changed house. Go for it as soon as the leaves have dropped.
JB.

hi Weed, I moved an 8 year old Hazlenut tree successfully (probably not as tricky as a gage or an apple?) it was late november and like Johnboy's apple tree I pruned it back quite hard.
I think timing is very important,I was talking to a forrester some months ago and he was saying that recently the dormant period for trees is getting shorter, that is starting later with some trees hanging on to some of their leaves right up to January.(Obviously it depends on the weather this year) I also think (as Johnboy does)the operation must be done as quickly as poss. so get everything well prepared beforehand and attention must be payed to watering right throuh the following season. ...Strawberry Tart.

Thanks for your replies and advice...I feel reassured and confident enough now to have a go...now where to put it

Well, I have bit the bullet as they say and yesterday installed my Greengage tree into its new home.

I look forward to picking a basket full of fruit next summer

Hi Weed,
What I omitted to say before was that the tree kind of sulked for two seasons but the tree is now well over forty years old and still gives a wonderful crops so don't expect a miracles next year. I think the sulking was the period that the new roots took to establish and in the third year the roots were able to take up sufficient nutrient and began fruiting again. It flowered during the sulk but they all dropped off before forming any fruit!
JB.

Thanks JB

This tree was only about six years old it was doing well and had produced fruit for the last two years.

I think it will like its new home