Transplanting trees into a different orientation

[spandit]

A good friend of mine has a load of little hornbeam coming up in his garden, which isn't huge. It's one of my favourite trees so we uprooted a dozen or so this morning for me to plant here. The largest was about 2cm in diameter and about 2m tall, maybe a bit more. I'm hoping they'll all take but wondered if anyone had done a study to see if trees transplant better if they're replanted facing the same way they were dug up? Too late for mine, it was an idle musing as I had nearly finished planting them all, but I wonder if trees are confused to find that suddenly they're the other way around?

 

On that note too, if a tree is leaning due to light from one direction, I wonder if digging it up and turning it around would straighten things?

[Nopedigree]

1 hour ago, spandit said:

I'm hoping they'll all take but wondered if anyone had done a study to see if trees transplant better if they're replanted facing the same way they were dug up?

I think the golden rule of “green side up” is applicable here.

Sorry.... I’ll get me coat on the way out.

NoPedigree

 

[Stere]

Trees that big don't tend to transplant well unless you manage get a huge root ball....

 

Much better going for smaller ones if any around i reckon

Edited December 10, 2021 by Stere

[spandit]

Fair point but they were free and better to try rather than let them go to waste

[Mick Dempsey]

I don’t think it matters how they are orientated, as long as they get plenty of light.

If they come into leaf next spring make sure they don’t dry out the first summer.

 

Hope they take, no reason why they shouldn’t.

[dumper]

Give them a mulch prune back the tips and keep them well watered for first season well worth trying 

[nepia]

3 hours ago, spandit said:

Fair point but they were free and better to try rather than let them go to waste

If they fail or you want more just ask; they seed like thistles here!

[spandit]

10 minutes ago, nepia said:

If they fail or you want more just ask; they seed like thistles here!

Very kind, thank you! You're not far away either... Can always plant more hedges

[nepia]

I will be!