If an apple tree has been planted in an incorrect or temporary location or taken over in an existing garden, it may be necessary to relocate the tree. Depending on the size of the tree, different complex measures are required.
How to successfully move an apple tree?
To successfully relocate an apple tree, you should dig it up so that the root ball is about as wide as the tree crown, cut the tree crown back heavily, prepare the new location with loose humus and water it sufficiently. The smaller the tree and the trunk thickness, the easier the process is.
It is difficult or impossible to transplant an old tree
The popular saying about the old tree that can no longer be transplanted has its justification. Fruit trees such as apple trees in particular are highly sensitive to being moved to a new location as they get older. If an apple tree is not to be transplanted until several years after copulation, a corresponding amount of effort must be made in digging it out, preparing the new planting hole and watering it within the first few weeks after transplanting.
Trunk thickness and tree crown determine the effort
If the trunk is more than eight centimeters thick, it may be necessary to use heavy machinery such as an excavator or lifting crane when moving an apple tree. For smaller trees, it is usually possible to move them by hand using the following equipment:
- Planting spade with sharp cutting edge (€52.00 at Amazon)
- loose humus for the new planting hole
- Water for sufficient sludging at the new location
- Planting shears for roots and treetops
Since an apple tree has a lot of fine hairy roots, the root ball to be dug up should, according to a rule of thumb, be approximately as wide as the tree crown. Since this is not always possible due to the size, protruding roots are neatly cut off with a spade and scissors.
Increase the tree's chances of survival in the new location
So that the decimated root ball can still ensure the supply of the apple tree, the tree crown usually has to be massively trimmed. In addition, the new planting hole should be dug larger and lined with loose humus so that the tree can root well. For the apple tree, which has shallow roots, the width of the planting hole is more important than the depth. In addition, a watering edge can be modeled into the soil around the trunk, which makes water supply easier in the initial period after transplanting.
Tips & Tricks
While moving an apple tree of a certain size can be laborious, it can save time until the first larger harvest compared to planting a seedling.
