I got offered a decently sized (5') fig tree here locally that is in ground. I was considering digging it up and replanting it in my yard.

Is this a bad idea? Is there a decent success rate?

I was going to basically dig around the drip line and hopefully bring some water to soak the soil or use the hose if this would work. The tree is also loaded with fruit but they want it out of the yard.

How deep are typical roots?

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.

I tried this before and the leaves wilted and fell off and all the figs dropped but the tree survived and it did great following year.
Would be better if you can wait until fall after dormancy to transplant.

If you must do it really soak it and try not to disturb the root ball.  Keep the tree moist until you get it in the ground and if it is sunny next few days it may help to provide some shade until it settles in.

If you live in cool zone <8 you may be better off to temporarily keep it in a container in mostly shade for now and water regularly.  Plant in ground in spring after chance of frost.

Very difficult to move now without dropping leaves as pino stated. In most soils digging it up first before soaking would probably be best. Dig it in the evening and have the same size hole ready. Plant the same evening and soak. Keep that rootball moist all fall.

The bigger the rootball the better. But it's hard to go more than 2ft diameter by hand. The roots are probably several feet deep and 5-10ft horizontally. So at best you get a tiny fraction. That's why you'll probably need to water every day this fall.

I'm ok with it losing the leaves and figs from this year.

I was just hoping that it would be a great fast start to having a larger fig tree next year that should be productive.

Would trimming half of the leaves off possibly help it keep the other half of them?

I will see if they mind it staying a bit longer, I just dont want to be rude if they are wanting it gone sooner rather than later.


I'm in mid TN - Zone 7.

It would be better to wait till the tree goes dormant in the fall.

I would ask if you could wait until fall to dig it up.  If they said no, I would tell them sorry, deal with it yourself.

I would not remove healthy leaves. If it's going to drop them it will but the leaves benefit the tree unless they're unhealthy. Every year thousands of potted trees survive a good root pruning so losing a couple of stray roots shouldn't be a problem either. I agree, best to wait till dormant but if it's a good one and they won't let you wait I'd say get the tree and baby it. Maybe even give it some shade for a week or so to help it recover from the transplanting.

Agree with the majority. Wait until dormancy.

Be aware that a tree that has insufficient root systems are more vulnerable to dieback in the winter, possibly to the ground...Pino's advice is spot on (put it in a container).

Last winter, Two different winter protected trees died back to the ground on me due to either digging up, or putting a new airlayer inground before the winter....and that was an Hollier. It was a mild zone 8a/b winter, they were protected like all my young trees, temps did not get below 25F.

I think the biggest question is do the owners just want the tree gone, maybe to do something with the space before the season ends.  If that's the case, it might come down to you taking it now, somebody else taking it now, or they might cut it down.  Worst case scenario you'll have lots of cuttings. 

Hi,
5' of height that's a small tree.
You can probably get most of it with a hole of total size of 2'. Than shake some dirt off but not all.
Of course waiting until Fall or tree being dormant would be better. But sometimes you need to jump on the occasion before it passes you by.
I would keep the leaves but remove all fruits two days before removing the tree - that is to avoid sap bleeding on you while you dig it out.
Success rate is high while moving figtrees. You still can have a dude and lose it. But no pain no gain .