Transplanting a yew tree

[Simpo Two]

I need to shift a self-sown yew tree about 4 feet high. Do you think I have a cat's chance in hell of tranplanting it successfully (given likely root damage, hot dry weather) or should I just chop it up?

[robinhood21]

At that size it should not have too large a root-ball. Soak the ground around it for the next couple of days, then dig up around it and give it a tug.

[Nightmare]

depends on how far you can be arsed to dig round it....an how deep....people do transplant em so prob worth a go...make sure you utterly drench the soil before beginning. make your life easier too

alternatively i own some cool axes.

[Nicholas Blair]

Will be fine - did it with the neighbours a few weeks back.

Get a large bucket and give the root ball a good soak before replanting - couple of days that is.

[Simpo Two]

Thanks folks - I hadn't thought of soaking it first!

[HiRich]

Did a 2-footer earlier in the year. I'm not sure the tree even noticed.

The root ball and tap was much smaller than I expected.

[Shaolin]

You'll cut off all the little fine drinking roots at the time of year when it needs them the most. If you can delay it at all, then do so, the best time to move established plants is between Mid-Oct/Nov and the end of the year.

If you must move it now, get as big a root ball as possible, saturate the soil before hand as others have said. Prepare the new planting hole well, dig in organic matter to the soil before hand and then keep an eye on it watering with a big drink every few days rather than little and often, it will have a hell of a thirst on and will be drinking through the eye of a needle.

[Simpo Two]

Shaolin, you speak an infinite deal of good sense - but I'm afraid Mr Yew gone to the big compost heap in the sky Wrong place, wrong time.

[Shaolin]

It has gone to the great forest in the sky where a tree is never attacked by aphids or suffers from impatient gardeners and where they can casually drop rotten branches on spraying cats - RIP

[Simpo Two]

Antarctica eh? Have you seen www.gdargaud.net/Photo/Fisheye.html ?

Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 1st July 22:24

[Shaolin]

Yes I've seen the site - you seem to have a thing about fisheyes! nice "planet" pics.