Fir Trees Planting

[CushtyJook 1,097]

Does anyone know when the best time to move and plant garden fir trees is, I have some on my place at the moment not young but not old about five foot tall not the fir tree you see in forestry but the garden ones that have ,any different tipes, I have them dug in my place have been growing for about three years but moving soon and have a nice gateway to put them either side of would need to dig the holes first but is is safe to move and plant them this time of year or would you wait until autum sort of time? Have around 11 all together and taking every single one with me few are already in big pots some are in the ground.

[CushtyJook 1,097]

http://www.seasonalgardening.co.uk/ideas/images/fir_trees_in_pots.jpg They are those sort of trees in the pots but bigger obviously

[sussex 5,777]

Any trees I've planted / moved has always been winter when they are not growing ..

[The one 8,485]

If there in pots you can transplant them just break up the root ball a bit and make sure they dont dry out in there first growing season

[Chicken_man 1,651]

As the One said, but one's in ground need shifting when dormant.

Atb

[CushtyJook 1,097]

As the One said, but one's in ground need shifting when dormant.

Atb

So even if I had the holes dug ready at the new land then dug the trees up temporary potted them drove 20 mins down the road and had them straight in and well watered every day they still would die ?

[CushtyJook 1,097]

We planted over 150 hedging plants like laurel beech leylandiy around a month ago and most of them bar the odd few have taken

[The one 8,485]

Its a risk you take depends on how much a gambling man you are , a wet summer and you will get away with it , also depends how much earth you can lift with them to keep the root desturbance to a minium , if no water them

Your tubs dig a bigger hole and break up the sides and break up the root ball as they will be used to growing round the way and try to help them making new roots going out the way to stabilise them or the winds just going to rock them and they will never take

[CushtyJook 1,097]

Its a risk you take depends on how much a gambling man you are , a wet summer and you will get away with it , also depends how much earth you can lift with them to keep the root desturbance to a minium , if no water them

Your tubs dig a bigger hole and break up the sides and break up the root ball as they will be used to growing round the way and try to help them making new roots going out the way to stabilise them or the winds just going to rock them and they will never take

 

Well it hasent rained for a short while yet but I might risk moving one tommrow into a big pot keep it well watered and see how it goes I've got 11 after all, will take as much earth from them as I can as pretty similar soil on both plots of land

[Chicken_man 1,651]

As the One says again. You could loosen the roots, leaving them in place preparing them for moving. Bear in mind fir tree roots spread out more, not like hardwoods. Shallow root systems, but more spread out. Keep well watered and steaked

[CushtyJook 1,097]

As the One says again. You could loosen the roots, leaving them in place preparing them for moving. Bear in mind fir tree roots spread out more, not like hardwoods. Shallow root systems, but more spread out. Keep well watered and steaked

Yes but surely just digging a wide enough around the tree taking most of the earth around it would be more beneficial than taking the earth away from the roots to spread them out?? I had an ash sapling quite tall growing through my gravel I pulled it out and re potted it yesterday watered etc within an hour it had started to wither

[J Darcy 5,871]

I have transplanted many tree's of various species and I have always followed the advice of doing this in January to the end of March....and I can't ever recall loosing one....

[gnipper 6,503]

Do it when they are dormant mate. If you really have to move any this time of year and are prepared to risk them dying then I would cut half the roots and leave it in place and then a week or so later cut the rest, move it fast as you can and water it loads.

[CushtyJook 1,097]

Do it when they are dormant mate. If you really have to move any this time of year and are prepared to risk them dying then I would cut half the roots and leave it in place and then a week or so later cut the rest, move it fast as you can and water it loads.

thanks yes will wait until later on in the year now with the ones in the ground, the ones potted would they be ok to move now as there only been in the pots around 2 months

[Chicken_man 1,651]

No mate, don't take soil away, just loosen the roots in prep for moving. Leave it in place after soil and all. Helps to reduce shock.

Atb