A little while back I planted some young loquat trees, pretty much ignorant of how big they can grow. Having found it out, I’ve realized that I need to move them away from the fence I planted them near to somewhere in my yard with a bit more room.
I don’t want to kill them, but they need to be moved. I have no idea how deep the roots are in the ground. How do I go about keeping them healthy while I move 'em?
You don’t mention the time scale involved here. That’d help.
If they have been in the ground for a couple+ years and you don’t have to move them now, wait until late fall when they are dormant. To find out the size of the root ball, start well outside the drip line and start a deep trench in towards the trunk, stop when you see significant amounts of dirt held by tree roots.
Unless you just planted them a month ago, moving them now (spring time) would be really a bad idea.
I’ve transplanted all the trees on our property ( nearly 40) and all were done in the spring. Which, here in Michigan, really is about April. Anything earlier and the ground is too hard and cold.
Depending on where you live, transplating usually should be done before it starts budding or growing.
I’ve never heard of a loquat tree, so this is out of my speciality and , I’m guessing, out of my Zone ( 4).
To transplant, dig down and wide and take as much dirt with you.
Where ever you plant it, make a hole twice as big and deep and flood it with water before you put the root ball and dirt in. Back fill. Put all the soil on it and squish out the extra air with your boot. Air will dry out the roots. That is bad. Water daily every morning for a few minutes.
I highly recommend getting some ‘root stimulator’ to encourage the roots to take hold and recover from the shock of manhandling.
Contact a local nursery and ask them about transplanting times.
Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat is a Japanese fruit tree (Actually it originates from China but has been grown in Japan for over 1,000 years) in the rose family. It’s considered an exotic fruit, although it’s by no means tropical. Although, they do look quite tropical.
The loquat is adapted to a subtropical to mild-temperature climate. Where the climate is too cool or excessively warm and moist, the tree is grown as an ornamental but will not bear fruit. Well established trees can tolerate a low temperature of 12° F. The killing temperature for the flower bud is about 19° F, and for the mature flower about 26° F. At 25° F the seed is killed, causing the fruit to fall. Extreme summer heat is also detrimental to the crop, and dry, hot winds cause leaf scorch. High heat and sunlight during the winter often results in sunburned fruit. The white-fleshed varieties are better adapted to cool coastal areas. In a large tub the loquat makes a good container specimen.
They don’t have a definite “dormant” period like a plum or apple would. SUch plants generally transplant well, although some tend to resent any root disturbance. I have not been able to find anything that says the loquat is the same.