When to move

15 years ago

I made a mistake on a row of maybe 7 spruce/fir. All were bare root plants, all have put on some growth (not much). The problem is that they need to come back about 2 feet. They have to be moved...they can't stay where they are. I also have some in pots (I ordered too many, so I potted up maybe a dozen) that I could plant now and then dig the others up in spring??? If not:

Do it now, late fall or early spring? (first frost here is around the 1st or 2nd week of Oct).

I've moved plenty of trees and most have survived. I moved 3 large sweet cherries last fall once the leaves had started falling and all three are doing great.

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Comments (3)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
frost is irrelevant ...

you want to do it when these trees are dormant above.. and they will be dormant when the other trees turn color ... so what.. october or so in z5 ...

they will start growing roots until ground freeze.. and then again at ground thaw.. giving them two cool seasons before the buds activate in late spring ...

once asleep.. or dormant.. it wont matter if you can get a ball of roots or bare root them again ...

just get siting right this time.. lol ... if you keep digging them up every year.. you will have bonsai.. lol ...

i am not concerned about just a bit of growth ... they are alive.. what more would you expect the first year ... they were growing roots you didnt see ...

ken
franktank232
Original Author
15 years ago
Will do. I have some flowers (annuals) that will have to be chopped down, so I'll get it all done when dormancy hits.

This will be it. I'll try to get as much root ball as possible.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
timing is more important than root ball .. as most of us.. bare root conifers for root surgery.. when they are as young as yours..

it wont hurt to try.. but i wouldnt make each tree a one hour digging job.. it just isnt worth it.. when the timing is right ...

dig new holes first .. then plop in the transplant.. insure proper planting depth.. and keep them damp but not wet up thru thxgvng .... some nice mulch wont hurt ...

ken