Moving a twisty hazel
Hello helpful people!
About 4 years ago I planted a twisty hazel in the middle of a bed. Now it's grown and I realise it's in the wrong place - in summer it blocks out the view of half the border it's in - and we only really have that one border.
So, I'm thinking of moving it....it's now about 6' high and 6' wide and its widest and tallest parts. Our soil is 18" of ok ish clay / loam(?) and then impenetrable, solid clay.... I plan to move it about two metres back from where it is.
Does this way madness lie? Is the clay going to make it too hard to get it out with enough roots to survive in its new home? Or should I chalk it up to experience and just get something else to out in the new place.
Thank you!
Rosie
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There is no reason to not try even at 6 feet high. It's true large and mature specimens are harder to dig up and may suffer some shock once planted into another place. But, it can be done with careful planning and cannot be rushed. Why put up with a tree planted in the wrong area.
Best to do it in dormant months. Make sure the new area is well planned with correct size in depth and width. You may need some help and the digging will need to be as wide as possibly be. You may need to cut down some more weaker and excess branches to minimise damage and allows you plant a chance to settle ready for spring. Loosen the soil in the planting hole and have plenty of compost ready. Back-fill carefully and push in the soil and compost to avoid air pockets. If possible, put a layer of mulch around the base afterwards. Water in and then continue to water when ground gets warmer. Once temperatures start to warm up in spring, you will need to start watering consistently.
Last edited: 06 October 2017 18:38:17
Thanks Borderline - we'll give it a try! Yes, we'll wait a month or two before we start.
Please try and move it..I wish I'd moved mine. I saw my first one in the Spring in a church yard in the Lake District and loved its bare twigs and catkins. When I had a garden I bought a small one and now 25-30 years on its enormouS. We do cut chunks out but it's brobably 10 feet tall and wide. Lovely in winter spring but a big lump of shady boredom in the summer. I wished we had moved it when that was possible.