Moving a Monkey Puzzle Tree - more info!

Some years ago, I wrote about moving a Monkey Puzzle tree, and the other day I had a question: or rather, one enquiry with several follow-up questions!

Barbara asked:  is there any special way of digging it out so as to not kill it? Is there a time when it could only be dug up? Also can it be put into any pot, or must it be plastic, or stone? What kind of soil should we put it in, or will the earth be OK?

Here - left - to remind you, is Spiny Norman, the one which I successfully dug up, moved across three counties, potted up, crown-lifted, kept for several years and then finally sold, when it became too big to keep.

So, let's run through Barbara's questions.

1) is there any special way of digging it out so as to not kill it? 

Not any "special" way, no: as per the other article - which I recommend you read, before trying it for yourself! -  the first job is to tie the branches up, to make the tree as vertically narrow as possible, otherwise you can't get close enough to dig it up at all!

Next, as with digging up any shrub or tree,  insert a garden fork all the way round the base of the tree, at a distance of at least a foot (30cm) from the trunk, and gently lever upwards. Just to loosen the soil, just to see how firmly rooted it is, just to see if it is going to come out easily, or will it put up a fight. 

I always go in with the fork first, because the tines of a fork slide between and around the roots: if you go in with a spade, you will simply chop through all of them, which might make it quick and easy to get it out, but can damage the roots beyond survival.

So, exploratory work with a fork first - not really with the intention of lifting the tree, but of loosening the soil.

Next, I go in on hands and knees, and feel around in the loosened soil for the main roots. Often, you will find quite stout roots, radiating outwards, which you can pull out of the surrounding soil without breaking them. If they are too long or stout to pull out. then they will have to be cut: use sharp secateurs and cut them neatly,  as "long" as  you can. 

Having severed the roots, the whole thing should now come out of the ground: aim to keep a solid rootball of soil around the base of the tree, but don't worry if you have a few of those longer, bigger roots flapping about in mid-air.

How big a rootball? Depends on the size of the tree. Barbara's one is, she says, about a yard/metre in height, so it's very similar to Spiny Norman. His rootball was about the size of a football, with a couple of big roots, which I'd had to cut.

Next question:

2) Is there a time when it could only be dug up? 

 No, you can do this at any time of year, as long as the ground is not frozen. It's a horrible messy job to do, if it has been raining for weeks... but that need not stop you doing it. If we've had weeks of drought and baking sunshine then the ground might be rock-hard, in which case you might struggle to get the fork into it. But there is no "wrong" time.

3) can it be put into any pot, or must it be plastic, or stone? 

Any pot will do.  Spiny Norman lived in a plastic plant pot for several years. If you intend to keep it in a pot, then a solid pot would be much better: it's better insulation for the roots against heat and cold, as plastic plant pots are thin and don't offer much protection. 

For more information about growing trees in pots, check out this post:  Cruelty to Trees: Pots.

Final question: 

4)  What kind of soil should we put it in, or will the earth be OK?

Yes, earth will be ok.  "Earth" contains a whole microcosm of bugs, worms, etc, a whole little ecosystem, which is more natural, if you like.  But if you don't have enough spare earth to fill the pot, you can use compost, topsoil, organic matter: anything, really.

If you are not sure about the differences between the various potting mediums, then check out this helpful and very informative *laughs* article about the relative merits of compost, manure, etc.

So there we go, hopefully I've answered Barbara's questions fully and comprehensively: and I would also add the usual reminder about aftercare: keep the newly-potted tree well watered, but not soggy: and you will need to remember to feed it, now that it's no longer in the ground.

Did you enjoy this article? Did you find it useful? Would you like me to answer your own, personal, gardening question? Become a Patron - just click here - and support me! Or use the Donate button for a one-off donation. If just 10% of my visitors gave me a pound a month, I'd be able to spend a lot more time answering all the questions!!