Transplant Monkey Tree, Araucaria araucana

Discussion in 'Araucariaceae' started by Ruhle, Dec 26, 2011.

  1. Ruhle

    Ruhle Member

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    Location:
    Comox, British columbia
    Hope somebody can help me. I gave my parents a monkey tree for their garden about 25 years ago. Now they are selling their house and it looks like the buyers will probably take down the tree. The tree is almost 10 feet in height, and is in a cement garden bed about 7x8 feet, the base of the canopy is about 8 feet in diameter, the soil it is in is about 3 feet deep. The tree is located in Port Hardy, North Vancouver Island. I live in Comox which is more central to the island. The hardiness zone of these 2 areas are more or less the same. I know that these trees are sensitive to being transplanted but if I don,t move it from Port Hardy to my home in Comox it will surely be cut down. I have the means and resources to move the tree just not so much the know how. I need detailed instruction for this transplant, and want to take all the necessary precautions for this tree to survive the move. If anybody can help me or lead me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated. I have until the end of March to get this done.
    thanx
    Esteven
     
  2. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Hire someone with a tree spade. Any time between now and March would be OK to do it, so long as you aren't in the middle of a hard freeze.
     
  3. RonS

    RonS Member

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    Hi Esteven,

    I would recommend hiring a specialist for this job, such as a landscaping company that has experience in relocating trees. If the tree were smaller, I would say to move it yourself. This is a special, rare tree in Canada, only a little more common in your area. This tree has sentimental value to you, as you have watched it grow. I have a 3-4 foot specimen in a large pot that I display on my backyard patio, here in Burlington, Ontario. I don't leave it out all year. I bring it into the garage when temperatures turn really cold, such as the -16C expected in the next 24 hours. Research its requirements for soil and light. Generally acidic well drained soil and full sun. Post a photo once you have it relocated?
    I wish you great success.

    Cheers,

    Ron
     
  4. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Be sure that they use a backhoe to dig the new planting hole at the second location and not a tree spade. You don't want the transplanted tree jammed into a tree spade-dug hole with compressed sides. The new hole should be wider than the root-ball, and back-filled with loosened soil. New roots grow readily into aerated soil, not compressed mud.
     

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