How to Transplant Fruit Trees
Ideally, only younger trees should be transplanted, The fact that they are young means that they adjust more readily to the stresses of transplantation. You will want the tree to bounce back quickly and to bear fruit as soon as possible.
Items Needed:
- Enough burlap to wrap the roots of the tree
- A shovel
- A cart or other method of transporting the tree (depending on distance)
- Dig the hole into which you will place the tree with the shovel. This hole should be roughly the width across as the tree’s canopy. Ensure that the hole is properly moistened.
- Prune the tree that will be moved. This will help it to spring back and bear fruit more readily after it has been replanted.
- Dig a hole around the tree, again, roughly the diameter of the canopy’s spread. Remove the tree from the hole and place it on its side. While it is possible for a relatively small tree to be moved by one person, a larger tree may need the help of several people. In some cases, they may be heavier and more difficult to move than they may appear while standing upright. Care should always be taken to avoid damaging the roots of the tree during the move. Obviously there will be some damage, the goal is to keep it to a minimum.
- Wrap the tree’s roots in the burlap, tie it and wet it thoroughly. Transport the tree to the hole in which you plan on planting it.
- Place the tree upright in the hole, and make sure that it is at a level that is no deeper than where it was in its previous hole. Cover the roots with soil, and water liberally. You may also want to fertilize the tree at this time as well.