Do sorbus transplant well?

I've a 'Joseph Rock' that's been in it's place for 3 years and is around 7' tall so still a baby really. Planning to wait until December/January then replant it to the front corner of the garden. Any advice welcome.

 

I haven't got any knowledge on this, but I would be inclined to prune the roots now - stick the spade in at the diameter where you are planning to make the rootball to sever the roots at that point so they can repair / regenerate before the rest of the roots, under the rootball, are disturbed when you move it later on.

 

Excellent advice from Kristen, however you mention the time of replanting-doing it in December/January is not such a good idea though. I would wait for the start of Spring to transplant it.

 

Thanks, thought it would be safer in winter? Not sure how far and deep the roots might be now or whether to lift it in it's soil...

 

If you prune the roots-go round the perimeter of the plant with a spade (at least that is what I would think Kristen means) it will send out new fibrous roots now whilst the soil is still warm.

If you were to plant it in December/January you would be exposing the plant to the unnecessary risk of frost damage and it certainly won't grow until Spring anyway. Spring is much safer to be planting out.

If it weren't quite so late into October I would probably chance moving it now-but I am in the North, it can be a bit unforgiving. Frosts will be here anytime now.

 

Yes, Winter is right, but the depths of Winter will be coldest, and early Autumn (November) the ground is still warm enough to promote some recovery by the roots. But I would want to root-prune, allow some recovery time (ideally a season before moving it), and then transplant.

The later you leave it (e.g. until Spring) the more you will have to water it next season to help it re-establish. For a single tree that's probably not too great a hassle, so I think that Spring (Late Febraruary or March at the latest) would be OK. If you can root-prune now and leave it until next Autumn (November) that would be my preference.

But I'm guessing, based on experience, rather than knowledge!

 

Hello Rob,

Sorbus are my favouite trees and over the years I have bought dozens of all different varieties. I live in Scotland so may be a bit different, however, I've moved Sorbus in the late Autumn...about now, when leaves are dropping or have at least finished colouring up, and also early Spring. The trees I have moved I haven't root pruned to be honest and they all moved fine. When I started buying Sorbus (always bought bare rooted as so much cheaper and better varieites/larger specimens than most garden centres) I was amazed at how little root some of the trees had when they arrived but 60 odd purchases later and I have not had 1 death.

When replanting the tree, just try and plant it at the same depth as before. I usually add some peat/compost/something nice and friable to give the new young roots an easy life, stake well and keep it well watered for it's 1st year if the weather is very dry. You might get a few suckers appearing from the base of the tree, best to pull them off if you can rather than pruning them as that just encourages them to grow better!!!!

When you do lift the tree you will obviously break/split roots. Any that are damaged I would prune back to where the damage has occured. Joseph Rock is a lovely variety altho I have to be quick to admire the yellow berries as birds round here also "admire" the berries and they get scoffed within hours of when our feathered friends decide they are ripe for picking! Good luck.

 

Thanks all, advice taken on board. I'll wait now until March now.