The Dirt Gardener's Column for February 6

Q. My parents are recently deceased and their property is to be sold. My mother has a lilac bush that is at least thirty-five years old. I would love to transplant it into my yard. Is this possible and how is it done?

A. A mature Lilac can be transplanted successfully as well as many other types of plants. February is an excellent month assuming the ground isn’t soggy wet. If you have ever tried to dig in wet adobe clay that is also quite sticky, you fully understand that it’s not fun. March also provide plenty of opportunities to move plants because of the cool temperatures. The key in transplanting is taking as large a root ball as possible. The drip line of the plant determines the width of the rootball and the depth is about twelve to eighteen inches. Keep in mind that wet clay is heavy so it will take several strong arms to help. Once out of the ground, I’d place it on a tarp to move it to its new location. The new hole should be dug ahead of time and the backfill amended with organic matter about fifty-fifty with the native soil. When placed in the new hole be sure the original root ball is not buried but instead is above the final grade as it will settle. It’s suggested that you reduce the vegetative portion of the plant, twenty to forty percent, to compensate for the lost of roots when transplanting. This is usually done first; however, you might wait until after the lilac blooms so you can enjoy the color. You might also want to postpone moving it until then also. These are all judgment calls on your part.

Q. My brother has two persimmon trees that give tons of fruit every year. He has to get rid of one of them. The trees are about eleven years old and eight to ten feet high with a six to seven foot spread. Should I hire an expert to move the tree or can we dig it up ourselves and replant it in my backyard? Is it necessary to have two persimmons trees to cross-pollinate each other?

A. It is a shame that one of these trees has to be removed. Persimmons are slow growing so to get a mature specimen with character takes time. Now, they can be successfully transplanted just like in the previous question; however, it is not very practical because of the size and weight of the rootball, three to four feet across by two feet, plus it would weigh a ton. Thus, you should hire a landscape professional or arborist who specializes in tree moving. Here is one that I found online, http://www.treemovers.com/treemovers.html. Now through the middle of March, would be the best time to move this tree. Unlike cherries and other fruit trees, persimmons do not require cross-pollination so you’ll not need a second tree for fruit.

by Buzz Bertolero, CCNP