Advice on moving a Magnolia tree

[smudge]

I have a friend who is moving house and she has a Magnolia tree that she is very very fond of (her brother bought it for her and he has passed away). She would like this tree to be moved from her present garden to her new home. The tree is about 8ft tall with about a 6ft wide crown. Can anyone tell me if it is a good time of the year to move the tree or will it die? I don't want to do all the hard work of moving it if it is likely to die. Is there a better time of the year to do it and can you give any advice on the best way to do it to give it as much chance as possible of surviving. Thanks in advance to those who respond.

[Peter]

Welcome to the forum.

 

The best time of the year to move it is either the end of October/ beginning of November, between the leaves falling and the first frost, or March, before the buds start to swell for the new seasons leaf.

 

Ideally, the tree should be root pruned over several years prior to moving, but you probably dont have time for that.

 

To get a good root ball, dig a trench around the tree, sever any larger roots with a clean cut with a saw or loppers. Aim to leave a rootball around 3 feet in diameter, and as deep as neccessary to preserve all the fibrous roots.

 

The tree will be quite heavy to move, do you have a way of lifting and transporting it?

 

Once it is in its new home, aftercare throughout the next year will be required, watering in any dry spells. Ideally place a watering pipe in the new planting pit so that water goes straight into the rootball and doesnt lie on the surface, which encourages shallow rooting.

 

Anything else you need to know, just ask!

[smudge]

Thanks for the welcome and quick reply Peter, much appreciated. The tree in question really needs to be moved ASAP. I know you have given the best time to move the tree but I don't think those times are possible. If I were to move the tree in the next couple of weeks what do you think its chances of survival are if any? I don't want to do it if it will definately kill the tree but I will give it a try if there is a chance of survival. Thanks for all the other tips you gave I will take them on board.

[Peter]

I have moved lots of trees at the wrong time of the year, I would say that your chances are about 50 / 50.

 

You can increase the chances of survival by pruning the tree to reduce the leaf area, and watering every day from moving until the leaves fall.

[smudge]

Thanks very much for your help, I'll give it a whirl !!

[firewoodman]

phwoor good luck with that one

 

petes advice is good i'd go with that one

 

if you want to be safe though go for a larger root ball and get a crane or bobcat with forks to lift it and plant it

 

put plenty of organic matter in the planting hole around the root ball to hold as much water as poss

 

if the tree is that valuable i would look for someone in the area with the gear and knowlege to help you.

 

oh when moving the tree from site to site try to cover the whole foliage to reduce the transpiration and wrap the root ball to stop it falling apart

[Drella]

For every inch in diameter add 12 inches in root ball.

 

Got a tree 8 inches? Better have a 96" root ball.

 

And please be sure to pull the burlap from the ball before you insert it in the ground.... I really don't care what anyone has to say about this issue. I can't tell you how many trees have died due to the lazy practice of leaving the burlap intact.

[firewoodman]

as someone who has had to remove over 30 rootballed trees from city streets after other contractors have planted them i agree with drella remove the material covering the rootball.