Hello,

I have just moved into a property which has a birch as described above in the rear yard of the property.It is approximately 15 feet high and I am wondering how I would tackle moving it onto a grassland area of the location.

Currently it is in a courtyard which has been tarmaced except for a 1 square metre square in which the tree is growing out from.

The main concern for me is the root system and what would be the best method in tackling digging it out without risking damage to the root system. I presume a fairly substantial removal of the surrounding tarmac area would be in order but I wanted to be sure of this. Any help or assistance from you would be greatly appreciated, if only to point me in the direction of an organisation or body that could give me advise or even assist in the job itself.

I live in Plymouth, Devon.

Thank you.

On Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:35:58 -0500, Terry Deans
wrote:


Hello,

I have just moved into a property which has a birch as described above
in the rear yard of the property.It is approximately 15 feet high and I
am wondering how I would tackle moving it onto a grassland area of the
location.

Currently it is in a courtyard which has been tarmaced except for a 1
square metre square in which the tree is growing out from.

The main concern for me is the root system and what would be the best
method in tackling digging it out without risking damage to the root
system. I presume a fairly substantial removal of the surrounding tarmac
area would be in order but I wanted to be sure of this. Any help or
assistance from you would be greatly appreciated, if only to point me in
the direction of an organisation or body that could give me advise or
even assist in the job itself.

I live in Plymouth, Devon.


It's difficult to say without a photo. At 15' tall it's likely a
fairly young and small tree, probably hasn't a diameter more than
4"-5". Contact a nursery to ask about having it machine dug with a
"tree spade": http://www.dutchmantreespade.com/index.html

With a sq meter of space they shouldn't need to touch your paved
area.... only real concern is access and if the pavement can support
the digging machine. But this won't come cheap... why move it, if
it's healthy leave it there... would cost much less to plant a new
tree in the open area. If you attempt to dig up a tree that size
yourself by hand with a shovel odds are it will die.

Thank you Janet,

This has been very helpful and i appreciate your reply and advice.

I will get another tree now and I'm only sorry to see the demise of a perfectly healthy one! Sounds like the root system isnt too widespread so the digging and root excavation by hand seems the way ahead.

Thanks again and good luck.

Terry

Hello there,

Thank you very much for the great advice and guidance.

It does grieve me to move this tree if it means it's demise. I think the original planters of it where a bit thoughtless of it's location and the fact that it is actually part of a car parking space within a courtyard area. But, of course, I shouldnt blame them, perhaps they had their own ideas as to the use of the space at their own property! It's just such a shame. I will be planting a new sapling at the location I have suggested now, seeing as there seems little chance of successfully replanting this without going to massive expense.

Thanks again.

Terry

On Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:15:26 -0500, Terry Deans
wrote:


brooklyn1;877250 Wrote:
On Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:35:58 -0500, Terry Deans
wrote:
-

Hello,

I have just moved into a property which has a birch as described above
in the rear yard of the property.It is approximately 15 feet high and I
am wondering how I would tackle moving it onto a grassland area of the
location.

Currently it is in a courtyard which has been tarmaced except for a 1
square metre square in which the tree is growing out from.

The main concern for me is the root system and what would be the best
method in tackling digging it out without risking damage to the root
system. I presume a fairly substantial removal of the surrounding
tarmac
area would be in order but I wanted to be sure of this. Any help or
assistance from you would be greatly appreciated, if only to point me
in
the direction of an organisation or body that could give me advise or
even assist in the job itself.

I live in Plymouth, Devon.-


It's difficult to say without a photo. At 15' tall it's likely a
fairly young and small tree, probably hasn't a diameter more than
4"-5". Contact a nursery to ask about having it machine dug with a
"tree spade": http://tinyurl.com/yznq4wt

With a sq meter of space they shouldn't need to touch your paved
area.... only real concern is access and if the pavement can support
the digging machine. But this won't come cheap... why move it, if
it's healthy leave it there... would cost much less to plant a new
tree in the open area. If you attempt to dig up a tree that size
yourself by hand with a shovel odds are it will die.

Hello there,

Thank you very much for the great advice and guidance.

It does grieve me to move this tree if it means it's demise. I think the
original planters of it where a bit thoughtless of it's location and the
fact that it is actually part of a car parking space within a courtyard
area. But, of course, I shouldnt blame them, perhaps they had their own
ideas as to the use of the space at their own property! It's just such a
shame. I will be planting a new sapling at the location I have suggested
now, seeing as there seems little chance of successfully replanting this
without going to massive expense.

Thanks again.

Terry


As I said earlier, I would just leave it there,,, those type of
birch trees don't grow very fast or very large, and they respond well
to drastic pruning, in fact they improve with regular pruning.
Probably likely the folks who chose to plant that particular tree
there knew a lot about what they were doing. And it's not very
difficult to open up the asphalt pavement opening... I certainly would
so that the tree's roots don't struggle for nutrients... it's very
easy to enhance the opening with a circular bench, of wood or cast
iron, or if you need the space at the pavemnt grade attractive natural
patio stones can be fit in.... some folks even have an ornate wrought
iron grate custom made. I wouldn't be too quick to chop down that
tree... odds are won't be long afterwards you will rue the day.