This is what we found when we googled ‘Moving a Tree’

‘Established trees and shrubs should be only moved if necessary as even with the best care the tree or shrub may fail to thrive or even die.’

Our daughter planted a Cox’s Pippin Apple seed when she was 7 years old in Scotland. It germinated and at first it grew in the house. Then because we thought it wouldn’t survive we planted it out of the way, behind the greenhouse. Here it grew well, and its size meant another move.

Apple Tree can be seen against the fence

Hannah dressed for her Prom 2007, age 17

From here it was moved to a sunny spot, beside the garden shed, where it stayed until last year, winter 2015.

Scotland 2007

Closer view of the tree against the fence
Hannah nearly 18
Tree age 11

By this time, our daughter was nearly 26, so the tree was nearly 19 years old.  Only once did it bear a little fruit, the only year we used a paintbrush to try and pollinate the flowers manually.  In other years blossom came and went but never formed any fruit.

However we didn’t want to leave it behind when we moved down to Wales last year, so a special trip was arranged.

The tree was pruned hard and dug up very carefully during the winter.  As many roots as possible were recovered intact from the ground together with some soil.  Surprisingly the tree came out quite easily. Then the roots were wrapped tightly in plastic bags to hold in moisture and it was loaded into a trailer for its long journey south.

Moving a Tree to a new home from Scotland
March 2015

Apple Tree arriving in Wales

New hole dug for planting (March 2015)

Plenty of fertilizer was applied and the tree’s roots were slightly trimmed.  At the time of planting, a professional gardener under the name of James Hyde, James Hyde Gardening was planting the orchard for us, and he very kindly planted it for us, staking it very well, and securing it into the ground firmly.

Soil removed from hole

Apple tree secured firmly with 2 stakes

Apple Tree in new position

Wales 2015

So we watered the tree very well and although we weren’t too confident that it would survive the transplant, this is how it looked in April 2015 and June 2015

Apple Tree one month later in April 2015

Apple Tree in leaf in June 2015

Wales 2015

It is a great result to see the little tree now growing in its new home!

We are waiting with anticipation to see how it fares in 2016!