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Moving an acer
msa1970
Posts: 2
New to this so hi everyone. I'm moving house in a couple of months and want to take my acer. Its about 3ft wide and 2ft tall is healthy and been planted for about 5 years. I was thinking about putting in big pot as assuming moving any later in the year would be worse. Any hints, tips or advice gratefully received.
Thanks.
0
Posts
I've never moved a tree, but seems to me I remember on one of those gardening shows they use a flat blade shovel to cut down and sever the roots a bit away from the drip line (where you would dig to remove the root ball) several weeks prior to moving a tree. I think it was to get the tree prepped for the move, without too much shock of loosing all the feeder roots at once. Could you just do that every four weeks (along the same line) until you move, then dig up the remainder on the day?
Hopefully someone will come along with better advice/experience.
Blue onion is right. Personally I would move it in early January as the sap is low and it has some time to regrow roots. You could lift it now assuming the leaves have not broken. I note that some of mine have done so today.
It's surely worth trying to move it although I'm sure some people would say, leave it and treat yourself to a new one. However, I've read of several people who have moved their Acer before it starts to come properly into leaf. I'd dig it up now for it to stand the best chance. Taking as much soil around the roots as you possibly can and keep it well watered after you've put it into it's new container. Good luck, do let us know how you get on.
Thanks have cut around tree and will be moving to container at the weekend. Will let you know how it goes.