Older fruit trees should only change their location in exceptional cases. A change of seat is possible if practical instructions are followed. Find out more about the procedure in this article.
When and how should you move a plum tree?
To successfully plant a plum tree, early spring or winter is ideal. After changing location, pruning and removing the flowers is recommended to promote rooting. Give enough water and keep the tree disc moist.
Variant 1
A good time to transplant is early spring, as soon as the ground is frost-free. In principle, a large part of the roots should be retained. Remove any bent runners. After the change of location, the plum tree will benefit from a generous pruning. In addition, removing the flowers supports the rapid rooting process.
Tip:
The plum tree has a main root deep into the ground. There are smaller roots in the top layers. The volume of the root ball is similar in size to the tree crown.
Variant 2
Alternatively, larger plum trees can be moved in winter. To do this, dig a wide trench around the root ball in midsummer. In the next step, loosen the entire bale slightly. The ditch is then filled with hay or leaves.
Important:
The plum tree needs a lot of water from this point on. It must not dry out. Regular watering is recommended until the leaves fall.
As soon as the garden ground is frozen in winter, lift out the tree and its root ball. It is advantageous if a planting hole is dug at the future location in summer. The following methods are suitable for transporting the tree in winter:
- Low loader wheelbarrows
- Tractor
- Wheel loader
- Forklift
Change location
Before planting the tree, lightly fill the bottom of the planting hole with soil. After thawing, the root ball loses volume slightly. However, the previous planting height should be retained at the new location.
For this purpose, store some garden soil in the basement before frost. This soil is also used to fill the planting hole. Finally, a layer of mulch protects the tree disc. Ideally, dried grass is used. Pruning is also recommended for this variant. Flowers are removed the following growing season.
Watering correctly
During the first warm season, the focus is on rooting. Support your Prunus domestica with rainwater. The tree disc must always be kept moist. Water more frequently during longer dry periods.
Tips & Tricks
A semolina ring can be helpful when transplanting. Similar to young plum trees, it ensures constant watering of the root ball. The rooting process accelerates.
