Established bay tree - moveable?

IM

Amongst the jungle that is my garden, I have an established bay tree – the kind you would pay hundreds of pounds for at your local garden centre.

Unfortunately, it’s in a really stupid place – exactly where I will be hacking out/napalming this weekend, ahead of a bit of decking going down.

If at all possible, I’m happy to have a go at moving it (probably to a large pot, seeing as we’re planning on moving within the next year or two).

What is my best approach to this, or is there no point even attempting it?

I’d say the foliage is around 2’ across, and just for good measure it is right at the edge of an existing concrete path, so the root ball is not likely to want to come out…

Jayar

Do you absolutely HAVE to move it right now? Autumn is the best time to move anything like this, but when you do, be sure that you have watered it well and get out as big a root ball as you possibly can.
It would be a real pity to lose such a wonderful plant.

IM

I knew you'd say that...

Thing is, if we don't get the work done soon, we'll end up missing the benefit of the garden for the summer - with the result that we're only doing it to improve value/saleability for next year.

Any clues in terms of specific compost type or anything like that?

And before I start digging, how big will the root-ball be?

Jayar

The size of the root ball depends a lot on the size of the tree. These things can grow to 12m, how tall it is?
Any road up the root ball is going to be B I G and no matter how careful you are, you are going to cause it damage.
How about hedging your bets and taking loads of cuttings. It's notoriously difficult to propogate this way. You're supposed to do layered cuttings, but as you want to move it now that's out of the question. I would take as many cuttings as you have room for and hope that at least some of them take. You can then take the best ones with you when you move to start again in your new place.
Then - when you have proved me wrong - and have a beautiful bay tree in a pot to take with you, you can give away your baby trees to friends family and neighbours.

IM

I'd guess it's about 5' tall.

Off to find a huge pot to put it in, tonight.

I'll keep you posted as to how it goes.

He who dares, Rodney....

oldandhappy

I have managed to grow 2 fine Bay Trees from cuttings in the past few years and because I also put them in a place not so suitable now I have cut all the lower branches off and have been training them into standard type trees...the tallest is around 4 feet and looking good ...Just another idea....Mrs Happy