My gut says no. Not w/o major die back. I wouldn't be willing to pay close to asking price, maybe make an offer. They probably aren't CH either. Any input appreciated.

http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/grd/3358778828.html

He says they are both HC. Can't be. HC is not a white fig. So you don't know what ur getting. Most people ask you to dig the tree out yourself and the tree is free. That fool wants you to dig AND pay. No way. Not for a couple of unknowns without sufficient time to get established before frost.

I give you my thoughts. First off, the first tree that he calls Hardy Chicago, isn't. The reason behind my answer is his description of fruit. HC is not a large fig. To be honest, i read the article without looking at the leaves. My first guess is Brown Turkey, but as I said didn't match the leaf. Some one will chime in and give your proper ID. Secondly, these trees will have to be pruned back to survive a move, which moving will stunt its growth for a year. If trees are common figs, you can get them to grow that much in 3 to 4 years. My point is you will lose a year from transplant so why not just start your own. Thirdly, this person more then likely has asked a landscaper to remove and saw how much the bill was and is trying to get rid of plus make a lot of money. I would not offer over 50.00 if you have to dig out, matter of fact i would probably offer to remove for him at no cost. If you find you would like to root some cuttings from these trees, offer him some money for a few branches.


luke

Way too much $, plus you supply the labor and take the risk? For the money, but the trees you want form a known online or local nursery.

If I gota dig my own tree, then it better be free! I would wait till the tree is completely dormant, then dig it up. November is a good time to do this. I paid $35 bucks for my HC trees months ago. They were 6' tall and loaded with figs. Both were in 20g pots. Two fifty is way too much to pay for that tree......maybe I'd pay that for 10 trees, but not 2.

I agree w/ all of you.
1 Trees will die back a lot and not produce well next year w/o proper gradual root pruning.
2 At least 1 of them is not CH so who knows what they are.
3 250 is way too much money for them.
4 I have to provide all the labor.

I'm thinking I'll send him an email telling him I'll dig and grade but wont pull them until spring, and I won't pay for them. Then I could go root prune them now.

this guys sounds to me like he'd tell you the fig trees are made of gold if you agreed to to dig em up and pay that kinda cash for them especially when you can get the same trees for 1/10 of that price in any nursery. the size of the trees is probably what grabbed your attention, everyone wants huge trees to get more figs. patience!!! a cutting will one day be as big as those trees and you'll be very proud of what you've accomplished.

Yea, here in Washington state there is an ad for a  U-dig Italian fig tree for $100 on CL. Way to much $$ for a U-dig tree . I told her: 'I would hook the Winch on my Tahoe to it and yank it out of the ground for $50'. She wouldn't bite .  

Fig plants are usually cheap and grow fast. No need to do all this risky business.

Thanks, ready I know CH isn't worth that much... And they won't be nearly that size after transplant.

don't buy it, you will regret, unless you have tons of extra cash and tons of space..then you will see the tree needs pruning and after that you will end up with a 30-50 tree.  keep looking, but don't do it unless of course it is a bid war for special, super special trees, those are rare to come by.

you would need  backhoe to do the real digging needed to get the root ball.  think the roots have similar shape below the dirt.