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pmoran17 Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 13 Sep 2012 Posts: 2 Location: Clifden, Co. Galway
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2016 7:47 pm Post subject: Tricky oak transplant |
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My Dad and I have been growing trees in a very exposed part of Connemara for nearly 20 years now, and in our ignorance we planted 3 in particular too close together. There's an alder, an oak, and a hazel growing in a row - each one only about 1'-2' from trunk to trunk. They've been growing well over 10 years now but they're very stunted due to the exposed nature of the garden, only about 4'-5' tall.
I'm planning to dig up and transplant the oak (which is in the middle) this coming winter once they're all dormant. I can see this being very tricky because of the age of the tree and its proximity to the other two. I plan to dig around the base of the oak about the diameter of the crown. I'm hoping the root ball won't be too big, since the crown is so small and the soil so shallow and rocky. How tangled up in the other trees' roots it will be, I guess I'll just have to see when I start digging.
Can anyone advise me on this or tell me it's a terrible idea?!?
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kindredspirit Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 10 Nov 2008 Posts: 2300 Location: Mid-west.
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James Kilkelly Rank: Site Admin

Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2173 Location: West of Ireland
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Greengage Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 09 Nov 2011 Posts: 3129 Location: Kildare
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2016 6:35 am Post subject: |
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That should not be a problem, with Oaks they may have a long tap root as its only planted three years it should be no problem, Keep it weed free and well fed and watered before move to help it build up resources. also if it does not have a leader get a strong cane to train one.
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tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 5188 Location: Co. Wexford
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2016 8:08 am Post subject: |
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10 years Greengage not 3.
_________________ “It’s my field. It’s my child. I nursed it. I nourished it. I saw to its every want. I dug the rocks out of it with my bare hands and I made a living thing of it!”
This boy can really sing http://youtu.be/Dgv78D2duBE |
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medieval knievel Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 1010
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2016 10:46 am Post subject: |
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are you going for a natural look with your tree planting? if so, why not just leave it?
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Sue Deacon Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 31 Dec 2014 Posts: 2029 Location: West Fermanagh
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2016 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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Going by the photo I'd say the oak is never going to make a standard tree. I'd leave it where it is. If the hazel or alder start smothering it, you could always coppice them.
_________________ Be humble, for you are made of earth
Be noble, for you are made of stars |
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Gautama Rank attained: Silver Birch Tree

Joined: 29 Aug 2008 Posts: 172 Location: Cork
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Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2016 6:03 am Post subject: |
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If they were more mine I'd coppice the oak and leave the other two as they are. Review the situation after another ten years.
MK suggests going for the natural look, i.e. leaving them as they are. However this'll result in at least one of them dying from competition. Its roots may them decay and get exposed to honey fungus, to the detriment of all.
If I was to move it a strict root pruning regime should be adhered to.
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Sue Deacon Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 31 Dec 2014 Posts: 2029 Location: West Fermanagh
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Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2016 8:30 am Post subject: |
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Hazel is easily coppiced and Alder readily grows back from a stump. I have yet to see a (small) Oak regrow successfully (if at all) from coppicing.
_________________ Be humble, for you are made of earth
Be noble, for you are made of stars |
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kindredspirit Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 10 Nov 2008 Posts: 2300 Location: Mid-west.
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Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2016 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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I'd hoof out the Oak with a JCB in the autumn. Job done in 20 minutes.
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medieval knievel Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 1010
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Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 9:44 am Post subject: |
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Gautama wrote: | MK suggests going for the natural look, i.e. leaving them as they are. However this'll result in at least one of them dying from competition. Its roots may them decay and get exposed to honey fungus, to the detriment of all.
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i'd still regard that as achieving a natural look. if that's something the OP liked the idea of.
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Sue Deacon Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 31 Dec 2014 Posts: 2029 Location: West Fermanagh
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Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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My house in England had a privet hedge around it - as did a majority of the neighbours gardens. A decaying tree stump three gardens away introduced honey fungus to the hedge. I believe that in the wild other fungi control the spread of HF but these fungi are not found in domestic gardens so there is nothing to control the spread.
In the space of 10 years it marched unstoppable through the gardens killing hedges as it went 2 -3 plants a year. Privet is part of the olive family along with lilac and they are very susceptible to HF as is the rose family. I lost a lilac a willow all my raspberries an apple tree and even my rhubarb! Natural yes, but not a look you want to aim for!
The old gardener Fred Loads was asked how to get rid of Honey Fungus. His reply was to move house. Now they have changed the formula of Armillatox his remark is more true than ever.
_________________ Be humble, for you are made of earth
Be noble, for you are made of stars |
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Good guy Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 11 Feb 2013 Posts: 2593 Location: Donegal
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Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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Fred Loads - now there's a blast from the past! Nearly makes me want to tune in to the Archers or Mrs Dale's Diary!
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Sue Deacon Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 31 Dec 2014 Posts: 2029 Location: West Fermanagh
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Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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Picked up a copy of 'Fred Loads gardening tips of a lifetime' from a charity shop. It really lives up to the title. SO much information.
_________________ Be humble, for you are made of earth
Be noble, for you are made of stars |
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Good guy Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 11 Feb 2013 Posts: 2593 Location: Donegal
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Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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Was it him that used to say 'Oi believe the answer lois in the soil'?
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