Moving saplings

garfield33

Hello MSE-ers, I'm new to this area of the board!

More of an advice question than moneysaving -

I live in a city centre terrace in Birmingham with a small yard/garden, and some saplings (pretty sure they're horse chestnuts) have started to grow in my garden, I can't keep them as they'll grow far too big for the area and eventually I think the roots will cause damage. The tallest is now about 6ft. I don't want to just dig them up and ditch them, I'd like to re-plant them somewhere, or donate them to someone who would like them, but have no idea where to go or who to contact - does anyone have any suggestions?

Thank you

(I tried to search to see if my question has been asked before, but struggled to think of words unique enough...)

DaftyDuck

You could offer them on Free cycle. Other than that they are, sadly, of no financial value. Horse chestnut is cheap to buy - 60p a tree for quantity purchases, plus it's getting a bit late in the year to successfully move them.
!
As a big fan of trees (I've planted about two thousand in the last 3 years, not including hedge plants!), I would chuck them, unless a freecycler shows interest.

Davesnave

Agreed. Digging up a 6' tree now to move it would probably result in its death, a hernia for you, or both.


I know it seems a waste, but you are really too late in more senses than one. By next year, you might well need a digger to successfully transplant it!

unrecordings

You could maybe try pollarding it now, to keep it small - just cut the top off and let it bush out. I did that by accident to an oak sapling. If it looks crap you can always dig it out next year - nothing ventured etc...

madjackslam

If they're knee high you might be able to pot them up and put them on Freecycle or Gumtree. Anything bigger you put them in green waste, and you've done your bit for carbon capture :rotfl: