3 Responses to “How Do I Transplant An Established Apple Treet?”

1. txcatwom says:

   September 7, 2009 at 2:51 am

   apple trees don’t live a long time, and digging it up will kill it, buy another one
2. MGM says:

   September 7, 2009 at 3:22 am

   The root system on your tree is probably quite large, and digging it up and moving it will most likely require large equipment and the expertise of an arborist. Larger trees are usually dug up with a backhoe and moved on a flatbed, or a tree spade is used.
   A good idea when you move established trees or large shrubs is to root prune them prior to transplanting. If you just dig up a tree you cut all of the roots. Usually the only roots left are the larger variety, with few of the smaller fibrous roots that take up nutrients and water and speed up recovery.
   Root pruning involves cutting part of the roots near the trunk (at a distance where the root ball will eventually be excavated) so that new fibrous roots will have time to form near the trunk before the rest of the large roots are cut during removal. If this is done there will be fibrous roots in the tree’s rootball when it is moved, and it has a better chance establishing itself quickly in its new location. Root pruning is often done a season before the tree or large shrub is moved.
   This sounds complicated, but it is pretty straightforward. Contact an arborist and he/she can help you plan.
3. Karl says:

   September 7, 2009 at 3:27 am

   There are tree moving services that you could contact that would have the expertise and equipment to do the job, but they are usually quite expensive. A tree of that size could be moved with a tree spade, but it would probably run you several thousand dollars to have it done. It would be a lot cheaper to just get a larger caliper replacement tree and plant it where you would like it.