Betula Utilis Jaquemontii(Himalayan Birch)

 


Hello,

I have just moved into a property which has a birch as described above
in the
rear yard of the property.It is approximately 15 feet high and I
am wondering
how I would tackle moving it onto a grassland area of the
location.

Currently it is in a courtyard which has been tarmaced except for a 1
square
metre square in which the tree is growing out from.

The main concern for me is the root system and what would be the best
method in
tackling digging it out without risking damage to the root
system. I presume a
fairly substantial removal of the surrounding tarmac
area would be in order but
I wanted to be sure of this. Any help or
assistance from you would be greatly
appreciated, if only to point me in
the direction of an organisation or body
that could give me advise or
even assist in the job itself.

I live in Plymouth, Devon.

Thank you.




--
Terry Deans

 

words:



   Established birches really  dislike being moved. You would face a lot
of ground disruption (and expense, if you paid a specialist)
with  little hope  of the tree's survival.
  The cheapest, easiest way would be to buy a new container grown  tree,
( B jacquemontii is easily available in any GC)
to plant where you want. It will be smaller but will grow fast.

Cut down the other one leaving a stump about 3 ft high. Excavate around
the roots, sever them under ground (axe/saw)
using the stump as a lever to rock and loosen the  roots, until you can
pick it up. (This removal is much easier to do, than it sounds).  Fill
in the hole. Any remaining roots will just decompose, no chance of them
coming back to life.


     Janet

 


Janet Baraclough;877247 Wrote:

Terry.Deans.5eb1db6@gardenbanter.co.uk

Thank you Janet,

This has been very helpful and i appreciate your reply and advice.

I will get another tree now and I'm only sorry to see the demise of a
perfectly
healthy one! Sounds like the root system isnt too widespread
so the digging and
root excavation by hand seems the way ahead.

Thanks again and good luck.

Terry




--
Terry Deans

 

On Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:35:58 -0500, Terry Deans


It's difficult to say without a photo.  At 15' tall it's likely a
fairly young and small tree, probably hasn't a diameter more than
4"-5".  Contact a nursery to ask about having it machine dug with a
"tree spade": http://www.dutchmantreespade.com/index.html

With a sq meter of space they shouldn't need to touch your paved
area.... only real concern is access and if the pavement can support
the digging machine.  But this won't come cheap... why move it, if
it's healthy leave it there...  would cost much less to plant a new
tree in the open area.   If you attempt to dig up a tree that size
yourself by hand with a shovel odds are it will die.

 


brooklyn1;877250 Wrote:

Hello there,

Thank you very much for the great advice and guidance.

It does grieve me to move this tree if it means it's demise. I think the
original planters of it where a bit thoughtless of it's location and the
fact
that it is actually part of a car parking space within a courtyard
area. But, of
course, I shouldnt blame them, perhaps they had their own
ideas as to the use of
the space at their own property! It's just such a
shame. I will be planting a
new sapling at the location I have suggested
now, seeing as there seems little
chance of successfully replanting this
without going to massive expense.

Thanks again.

Terry




--
Terry Deans