That's a tough one!

I'm sure you could legally write that condition into the sale contract (though it might limit the potential pool of buyers), but who is to say that if the house changes hands again that it'll be honoured? Or even if the first buyers will honour it five or ten years from now. And what happens if the tree becomes diseased or damaged? Who decides how sick it is? You or I might be knowledgeable enough or inclined to try to save it, but most people wouldn't.

I would assume if it's a nice tree to begin with, that it'll be left alone for it's natural life anyway. When people sell a house to non-gardeners it's usually the perennial beds and shrubs that get neglected and need to be hauled out, not the trees. Trees tend to be fairly low maintenance and that's what non-gardeners prefer.

I think if I had something too big to take with me, and I knew I'd be moving in the next year, I would take a cutting and start a new plant (start several in case you have a high failure rate). Perhaps air layering would be a good method, if you have the time, since it gives a good sized new tree, and it's usually more successful than plain old cuttings. If you are selling before you can propagate with air layering, it would be an entirely reasonable thing to write in a clause allowing you access to the tree and the right to remove the rooted pieces when they are ready.

If you have the cash, there are companies that are equipped and experienced to move larger caliper trees.

Plants with sentimental meanings can make you do some crazy things :-)

BP

Hi BP:

Thank you for the thoughtful response.

You are right, plants with sentimental meanings can make you do crazy things. I think I will follow your suggestion and start some cuttings. This way I can share the tree with other family members as well;-)

Cheers,
MG

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