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| All:
We are embarking on a new home construction and just closed on the property - but want to save as many trees as possible. Sadly we could not close earlier, and now we're stuck transplanting in Summer here in DC. Is it worth the $9000 quote for 120 man-hours (3 men x 5 days) of machine (backhoe?) healing of trees, including: Green Japanese Maple, Katsura, Amelanchier, Dogwoods, Azaleas, and other perennials such as astilbe and liriope? These plantings would otherwise be destroyed. Plan is to transplant to final location, or heal in front yard until Fall... Unsure what the success rate is, and if its worth it. They are very nice specimens in good health - which unfortunately need to be moved or destroyed. Thanks in advance for your helpful advice. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Tue, Jun 19, 12 at 11:54
| for 9 grand.. i could probably cover my entire 5 acres in new babe plants ... and on top of that.. no guarantee ... its hard w/o pics.. or sizes on each plant ... i guess i wouldnt go to vegas to gamble.. and i wouldnt gamble here ... i often say.. timing is everything ... and as you note.. this is not prime timing ... have you considered selling them outright.. and starting clean.. perhaps next spring???? there are peeps who buy such stock ... all this said.. its really hard to answer your question.. not understanding your financial setting ... if you are a multi-millionare .... and 9000 is pocket change.. and you want instant gratification.. as to size.. and like to roll the dice.. go for it ... if you are like me.. a cheap SOB.. who would rather buy 180 fifty dollar plants [if i had the money] .. and watch my own babes grow.. i would opt for starting a collection of new young plants.. i will presume you are somewhere in between.. and as such.. i dont know what to tell you ... good luck ken |
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| I HIGHLY doubt they would survive. Much would depend upon how big they are, and how they were handled. If this is just Joe Blow Contractor Construction, they likely have NO IDEAL what they are doing plant wise. Picture of the setting, plants etc would help. Also do they take care of the plants while healed in? I doubt it. Then there is the matter are they properly root pruned? I doubt it. etc etc. Talk to an Certified Arborist. Any monkey with a shovel can call themselves a "landscaper" or nursery, and not truely know anything about trees. Arktrees |
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| Unless they are exceptionally large or beautiful that you want to keep them so bad, I would replace them after the job/ construction is done. The perennials should'nt be expensive to replace. I can't fathom spending $9000 to keep them unless they are special in some way and the company gaurantees they will live. A couple of them don't live that long. Dogwood and Amalancher don't live very long. If you have more time than money you can purchase new plants pretty inexpensively. But I'm a cheapskate, and buy small trees. They usually grow pretty quickly anyway. |
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| I didn't see anything in your list of things to keep that would prompt me to drop 900 much less 9K, but money is only a concern to those who don't have it.... I would think the joy of replanting with (for example) a 5K budget at the new place would overcome the desire to move what you have now. Oddly enough, the azaleas are probably the most-valued of the bunch in my book, and I'm a tree nut. Maybe get an estimate to move them only and start over with trees in the fall. |
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- Posted by gardenapprentice none (My Page) on Tue, Jun 19, 12 at 12:51
| Please don't transplant its expected to be 90+ over the week and then the mid 80's next, so unless you do thorough and continous watering/maintence it'll be difficult. To help with the transplants, remove some of the leaves so they can survive or wait till the fall and convince them not to destroy the garden+ trees |
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- Posted by gardenapprentice none (My Page) on Tue, Jun 19, 12 at 12:51
| Please don't transplant its expected to be 90+ over the week and then the mid 80's next, so unless you do thorough and continous watering/maintence it'll be difficult. To help with the transplants, remove some of the leaves so they can survive or wait till the fall and convince them not to destroy the garden+ trees |
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- Posted by arsenalfan none (My Page) on Tue, Jun 19, 12 at 13:01
| Thanks all. Thanks everyone for their input. A tough question for advice without pics, I know. To me, it will be worth 9k if I don't need to import more plantings and have saved the healthy ones there. More clarification: These are about 20 ft tall trees; the landscaper is a certified arborist with 30 yrs experience/biz in the area; my GC is an arborist, and no relationship with landscaper but says that is more than $18k of new material if it were to be planted in. The 0.5 acre lot is ringed by some beautiful 5-6 story tall magnolia, walnut and cherry trees - these are ones that would go along as fillers. Decisions, decisions. |
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