Transplanting cherries in the fall to a new (different) place: when is it better to transplant

Content

1 When is it better to replant cherries: in autumn or spring
2 Timing of transplanting cherries in autumn
3 Site selection and preparation of the landing pit
4 Rules for transplanting cherries in a new place in the fall
5 Autumn care for cherries after transplanting
6 Professional tips for transplanting cherries in the fall
7 Conclusion

For one reason or another, the initially chosen landing site may turn out to be unsuccessful. In this case, the tree will grow poorly, bear little fruit, and sometimes the harvest may not be seen at all. The situation can only be saved by transplanting cherries in the fall or spring to another, more suitable place.

When is it better to replant cherries: in autumn or spring

The growing season of cherry begins quite early, especially in its early varieties. Therefore, in the spring, there is a very high risk of not being able to transplant the tree while it is still dormant. The transplantation of cherries that have entered the growing season will greatly delay their rehabilitation, the tree in a new place will take root for a long time, later it will bloom, and will cease to bear fruit. If the trees have already entered the growing season, then it is better to postpone the transplant until the fall.

If the tree has entered the growing season, then it cannot be transplanted.

Late varieties of cherries wake up after hibernation with a noticeable lag behind the early ones. Therefore, they are transplanted in the spring. Also, spring transplantation is preferable in cold regions where winter starts early. In the fall, there is a great chance that the transplanted tree will not have time to take root in a new place and will die from frost. If the actual timing of the arrival of winter is close to the calendar, then the autumn transplant looks preferable for the following reasons:

During the winter, the plant will strengthen the immune system.
Trees transplanted in autumn begin to bloom and bear fruit earlier.
Cherries adapt faster to a new place.
The likelihood of developing diseases and the appearance of pests is extremely low.

The older the cherry, the worse it tolerates transplantation. Trees older than 10 years are transplanted only in exceptional cases, while the likelihood of their death is very high.

The steppe and felt varieties of cherries are very poorly tolerated, especially in adulthood. Even if the plants do not die after the work, their recovery can take a very long time.

Felt cherries do not tolerate transplanting very well.

Important! It is not worth waiting for the appearance of fruits the next year after transplantation. In the best case, fruiting will recover in 1 season.

Timing of transplanting cherries in autumn

When transplanting cherries to a new place in the fall, you need to focus not on the calendar date, but on the local climatic conditions, based on which the tree must be planted no later than a month before the onset of cold weather. In the Moscow region, in the middle lane and central Russia, the transplant is carried out in the first half of October. In the southern regions, this can be done later, in late October or early November. But in Siberia and the Urals, it is better to refuse to transplant cherries in the fall, the best time to carry out work in these regions is spring.

Site selection and preparation of the landing pit

An unsuccessful planting site can cause the cherry to not bear fruit at all. If the place was initially chosen incorrectly, then all these factors must be taken into account when transplanting. There are several main points here:

The best place for cherries is on the south side of the fence or low building.
The place should not be in the shade of large trees or large structures.
The groundwater at the cherry planting site should be at a depth of 2 m or less.
The soil on the site should be loose, breathable, with a level of acidity close to neutral.
There should be no beds with nightshade crops (peppers, tomatoes) near cherries, since they have the same diseases.

Important! You can improve the condition of the soil on the site and reduce its acidity by adding chalk, lime or dolomite flour to it.

Planting holes need to be prepared in advance

When transplanting cherries, it is necessary to dig out planting holes in advance, the size of which should be commensurate with the root system of the transplanted tree. They add compost, a few tablespoons of potash and phosphorus fertilizers, wood ash. The pit must be spilled with water so that the fertilizer partially dissolves, and the soil settles a little.

A short video on choosing the right place for planting cherries can be viewed at the link:

Rules for transplanting cherries in a new place in the fall

It is more convenient to transplant a cherry together, and if the tree is adult, then more helpers may be needed. The older the tree, the more powerful its root system, respectively, the larger the clod of earth on the roots should be.

Features of transplanting young cherries in the fall

At an early age, cherries, as a rule, tolerate transplanting to a new place well. When removing a young seedling, it is not always possible to preserve an earthen lump, especially if the soil is loose and not sufficiently moist. If the roots of the tree are dry, then before planting it is advisable to soak them for several hours, completely immersing the roots in water.

After transplanting a young cherry seedling, you need to form an irrigation zone

Be sure to do a thorough examination of the root system. If some roots show signs of rot, then they must be cut off. To prevent the cut from causing infection, it is cauterized with a strong solution of potassium permanganate.

Transplanting an adult cherry in a new place in the fall

Transplanting an adult cherry to a new place is a simple but time-consuming procedure. It is produced in several stages:

The near-trunk circle is spilled abundantly with water so that the earthen lump, if possible, does not crumble.
The tree is dug in a circle at a distance of about 0.75 m from the trunk and to a depth of at least 0.6 m.
The cherry, along with a lump of earth, is carefully removed from the pit. Due to the significant weight, it is best to do this with several helpers.
The roots chopped off and damaged during the extraction process are burned with potassium permanganate. If rotten ones come across, then they are cut off. Slices are also treated with potassium permanganate.
The tree is moved to a new location on a piece of tarpaulin or on a garden wheelbarrow.
On the spot, check the compliance of the dug planting hole with the size of the earthen clod on the roots. If necessary, the pit is expanded and deepened.
Place the cherry in the planting hole. At the same time, the lump should rise slightly above the surface of the earth.
All voids are filled with earth and well tamped.
Along the border of the root zone, an earthen roller is formed as the border of the irrigation zone.
Produce abundant watering of the tree.
The trunk circle is mulched with humus, straw or sawdust.

All voids must be filled with earth and tamped

Important! It is necessary to compact the earth in voids very well. You should not be afraid to damage the roots - an earthen lump will reliably protect them.

Is it possible to transplant bush and felt cherries in the fall

It is not recommended to touch both of these varieties of cherries after planting. Transplanting these varieties in the fall is allowed as a last resort and only on condition that the age of the bushes does not exceed 4-5 years. In addition, the following requirements must be met:

The bush should be dormant, there should be no leaves on it.
At least 1 month should remain before frost.
It is important to transplant as accurately as possible and only with a lump of earth.

The very transfer of felt cherries to a new place in the fall is not difficult.

Important! Even if the transplanting process is successful in the fall, bush or felt cherry will take root in a new place, it will yield a harvest only after 2 years.

Autumn care for cherries after transplanting

After transplanting with cherries, all the necessary measures are taken to prepare for the winter. Young seedlings are covered with a metal mesh and spruce branches, this will protect them from frost and hares. In mature trees, it is imperative to whitewash the stem and lower skeletal branches to a height of about 1.5 m. This will save the bark of the tree from sunburn in the spring.

Whitewashing cherries should be done not only in autumn, but also in spring.

After the first frost, the trees are sprayed with a urea solution, diluting 30 g of the substance in a bucket of water. This will not only increase the winter hardiness of trees, but also kill the larvae of insect pests that hibernate in the folds and cracks of the bark.

Professional tips for transplanting cherries in the fall

To avoid unnecessary problems when transplanting cherries in the fall, professional gardeners are advised to adhere to the following recommendations:

When choosing a landing site, it is advisable to immediately take into account all possible scenarios for the development of events. If in the future construction, expansion or other activities are planned on the site, the consequence of which may be the need for a subsequent transplant, this must be taken into account and not planted cherries in this place.
Transplanting a cherry is a painful procedure, and the older the tree, the less likely it is to be successful.
Before transplanting, it is advisable to prune the tree by removing excess shoots, standard growth, as well as all dry and damaged branches.
It is undesirable to replant cherries in the fall in the rain. Contrary to popular belief, excess moisture does not contribute to better survival.
You should always try to keep the earthy clod on the roots as much as possible. The more intact and larger it is, the greater the likelihood of success with the transplant.

Dried cherries - the result of an incorrect transplant

Important! If the timing of transplanting cherries to a new place in the fall is missed, then it is better to postpone the procedure until the spring.

A late transplanted tree will either freeze in winter or die in the spring due to the so-called "biological drought", when the root system, which has not taken root in a new place, simply cannot cope with the supply of water and nutrients to the early growing tree.

Conclusion

Transplanting cherries in the fall can give new life to the tree, but the procedure is quite risky. Young trees, most likely, will tolerate it well if you follow all the rules and terms, but with adult specimens, everything is much more complicated. In this case, use common sense and take into account the age of the tree and the associated risks. Perhaps it would be more correct to plant a young seedling in the fall than to spend energy and money on moving and rehabilitating a specimen of "pre-retirement" age.

When and how to transplant cherries in the fall to a new place: terms and rules for transplanting