Moving / Transplanting a medium to large orange tree

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Permalink Reply by Powell Gammill on January 18, 2012 at 1:38pm

1.  Well now is the time of the year to do it.  What seems to be the problem with its present location (besides too near the house)? I would pull all fruit off before transplant.

2.  This will greatly stress the tree and may take 2-3 years to recover fruit production...but hey my trees are 80 years old...some within 4 feet of my foundation in a 55 year old house.

3.  A mature tree will weight A LOT....consider professionals with appropriate equipment and experience.  No point in losing your life over a tree, plus the tree will appreciate it.  Otherwise, find the equipment you need: transplant saw, shovels (including trenching), pick if needed, chainsaw, ax, hoist, etc. at rental shops.  Water area well before digging and have the hole to transplant to ready first.

4.  Hope it doesn't provide western shade for the home.

5.  Consider buying a few gallon jugs of Vitamin B-1 to stimulate rooting (I'm guessing) over the first few weeks of watering after transplant.  I remember doing a orange tree when I was fairly young with a neighbor who was an experienced citrus orchardist.  What I remember most is I never wanted to do that again, and it wasn't my tree.  He at least had a bulldozer to use to lift it out and transfer it over.  And now that I am remembering, we kept spraying the roots with water and may have had some sort of burlap covering(?).  The good news is citrus is a shrub that has a wonderful tree form---tough like a shrub.  The bad news it doesn't like having its roots tickled. 

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Permalink Reply by Powell Gammill on January 18, 2012 at 1:55pm

You might post this question to RSIgrowers forum and PhoenixTropicals forum...I wish AZRFG had an active forum as some of those guys do/did this for a living.

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Permalink Reply by Powell Gammill on January 18, 2012 at 1:59pm

Liz & Dan have the same problem with a younger citrus tree. 

And it wasn't burlap, it was old carpet between the chains/belts and the trunk.  I think the roots were bare...but we kept them wet.

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Permalink Reply by JasonM on January 18, 2012 at 2:57pm

thanks for the input. i was just trying to find out if it's even possible. it doesn't provide any shade, as it grows up in the middle of what is now a patio and the only shade it provides is to the patio cover itself. 

i will try those other forums to see if i can get a recommendation. 

thanks everyone. 

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Brewer on January 18, 2012 at 6:36pm

Take a look at these threads:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/citrus/msg0912423611501.html

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/flgard/msg0408224911651.html

 

It's a pretty large undertaking and your tree has a good chance of either never fruiting again or dying.  Mature citrus is very difficult to transplant and probably requires a professional.  Your best bet, economically, is to plant new trees.

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Vicki Brock on February 22, 2013 at 9:09pm

I planted a new grapefruit last year in a bad location!  Is it too late to transplant it to a new location this year? And, if so, can anyone give me a good recommendation on a professional who can do this for me?

 

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Brewer on February 23, 2013 at 1:34pm

Transplant your grapefruit now.  You probably can do it yourself with someone assisting, assuming you're willing to put in the labor to dig out the appropriate size holes and transplant the gigantic rootball.

 

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Permalink Reply by Vicki Brock on February 24, 2013 at 12:32am

Thanks for the encouragement - the gigantic rootball is what I'm concerned about ...

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Permalink Reply by Liz & Dan on February 24, 2013 at 3:05pm

I yanked out and transplanted some persimmons last year and they survived, but they were only a few years old and are dormant this time of year.  Citrus is a whole different ball game.  How close to your house is it actually?  Powell is right that there are quite a few older citrus fairly near the house and as long as they are watered deeply and infrequently the roots shouldn't heave a foundation (but don't hold me liable for this!!)  They are a relatively slow growing tree and don't really like to be moved.  Our trees are probably 80 years old (at least) and could not be moved only removed.  A couple are vary close to the house additions in the back, but I didn't let my hubby cut them down because of the nice shade.  They will come out eventually, but I'm waiting for some of my other trees to provide shade before making any such final decisions.  The biggest question is do you like the fruit off the tree?  Because if you don't, that's a pretty easy decision then!  Maybe post a couple pictures?  Also for a tree that old I agree with the others.  Professional movers only.  A tree that size is not for the home gardner!

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Permalink Reply by Powell Gammill on February 24, 2013 at 3:15pm

It is if the home gardener and their sig other can each bench press 450 lbs.  But the new poster indicates it is in the ground one year so not too bad.

Actually if they like the fruit, might want to consider attempting to graft it.  Be interesting if the AZRFG were getting in citrus rootstock for grafting this year.

But ordinarily the best time to transplant it would be after the fruit season is over.  Pick all fruit off regardless so the tree is less burdened with recovery and weight (actually probably no fruit anyway since 1 year old). And as Andrew said, for Phoenix right now is best time to give transplanted tree as much time to grow into new area before 90F plus temps appear.

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