can I move a holly tree?

never_enough

A neighbour has a holly tree about 3metres tall that she wants to cut down. I would love it for my garden but have no idea if it would cope with being dug up & replanted. Any thoughts?
Thanks

paddy's_mum

You can but try! I have done this many times with such varied plants as roses (in July) and a fifty year old grape vine last autumn, which is just now starting to show new buds.

Try to keep as much soil on the rootball as you can and move it on something like an old piece of tarpaulin so that you don't drag it along the ground and knock off even more soil.

I have found the secret to be water, water and yet more water. Gallons a day until you see signs of new leaves or if after, say, a month the plant doesn't appear to be showing any sign of failing. Some plants suffer shock on being moved and look rather sad for a long time. If the holly does this, don't give up until this time next year as it may just recover and surprise you.

You can test for life in the interval by doing a bark test. With your thumbnail, scrape a tiny piece of the bark on the main stem periodically. If green or cream shows under the scrape, the plant is still alive. If it shows brown or black, it's dead. Good luck with the holly tree and hope that helps.

never_enough

Thanks for that. I think it's worth a try as she is just going to chop it up otherwise. Just need to round up some strong people to drag it across the road! The hollies that I put in a few years ago are so slow growing, it would be lovely to have an instant tree.
Any ideas how big the rootball would be on this?

niccy

rootball, as big as you can manage

also when you dig it up and transplant, the less light the better, i.e. late evening

maybe take a few cuttings as well


i love Holly , i called my daughter that (well she was born christmas day)

morlandbanks

I've got a 3m high holly tree in my garden too. If you want it...you're welcome to it!!
We're considering cutting it down, but I'm a bit wary of the fact it's so flipping prickly!!

paddy's_mum

never enough - there is no way to tell how big the rootball is likely to be unless the plant is growing in some place where the roots cannot escape, such as in a gap between paving slabs. Many things affect growth - the type of soil, the depth of the topsoil, whether the tree is selfsown or has been planted etc.

You could, if your neighbour agreed, take a spade and just start slicing downwards about a foot or so from the trunk and see whether you hit major side roots or just thin, spindly threads of hair roots. Strangely enough, in my experience, it is the hair roots that sustain life and it is those that you need to get water to. The big roots appear to only anchor the tree.

As for rounding up help, just tell friends and family that there is a bbq next Saturday and the beers are on you! Good luck.

never_enough

morlandbanks wrote: »

I've got a 3m high holly tree in my garden too. If you want it...you're welcome to it!!
We're considering cutting it down, but I'm a bit wary of the fact it's so flipping prickly!!

Don't s'pose you're anywhere near me :think: How about advertising it on freecycle? My local freecycle (Cambridge) often has plants or shrubs offered, if you come to dig them up from their current space. Got to be worth a go, might be exactly what someone else is looking for, plus saves you the hassle of getting rid of it!
Alternatively you could prune it, make it more managable?

never_enough

paddy's_mum wrote: »

As for rounding up help, just tell friends and family that there is a bbq next Saturday and the beers are on you! Good luck.

Good plan!! :beer: :j :T :beer:

Becles

Don't want to put a dampner on your plans, but we had a holly bush in our front garden that was about 6ft high. Hubby cut it down and couldn't get the roots out at all.

We then had the driveway done, and the builders couldn't get the roots out either, so they had to call in a professional tree surgeon.

Just thought I'd tell you in case it's not as easy as you thought!

never_enough

Becles wrote: »

Don't want to put a dampner on your plans, but we had a holly bush in our front garden that was about 6ft high. Hubby cut it down and couldn't get the roots out at all.

We then had the driveway done, and the builders couldn't get the roots out either, so they had to call in a professional tree surgeon.

Just thought I'd tell you in case it's not as easy as you thought!

Oh, that doesn't sound good. I guess it's not the end of the world if it doesn't work out, I wont have lost much more than a few hours digging.

navig8r

Wrong time of year really,but if its got to be moved its got to moved!

Pre prepare the hole your going to put it in and leave the hose in it for several hours so the tree is not out of the ground for too long and has water where it needs it (howles of protest form the greens) ..a holy will have quite a resistance so you will need a good stake .also you could set a waste pipe at an angle from the bottom of the hole to the surface so you can water directly to the roots.good luck!
Dave