Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
theresse_gw

Ginkgo tree offered to be dug up NOW or never

theresse
10 years ago

Hello -

I was offered a ginkgo that's maybe 10-15' high (looks like maybe around 12'?). Hard to pass up as it's one of my favorite trees. What isn't known is whether it's male or female, how big the root ball will be for transporting (will they sell a big enough plastic pot of some sort?) and if it will survive being dug up. If I don't take it in the next couple of days her friend's going to. :(

My understanding is that these trees should only be transplanted in the Spring.

Questions are:

- Is that true? Is there some way to dig up the tree and keep it alive, even if I don't put it in the ground till Spring? Is there a way to put it in the ground now, or is that just too great a risk?
-Any clue as to how deep I'll have to dig - how long it'll take two people to dig it up?
- Is there a pot big enough (cheap kind you get rid of after) for a tree that size? If so, certain soil to buy?
- Is it a big deal if it's the kind that has the fruit with the rotten bad smell? How long does that last for, if you know? Will it be so bad that I'll have to get rid of the tree? I read you often don't know if it's the "safe" (non-smelly) kind for 20 years.

Thank you! It's hard to pass up a free ginkgo!! Such a shame they can't wait till Spring!

Comments (14)

  • lkz5ia
    10 years ago

    you're not going to be able to dig that by hand, but with a tree spade, so start adding up the dollars, and bigger the tree, more transplant shock. Also in summer is the worst time, so good chance it'll be dead anyways. Let her friend take it, you've saved yourself a lot of disappointing work and money.

  • whaas_5a
    10 years ago

    What a waste that you'd have to take it now...in OR don't you have to wait until October or the leaves to start turning?

    Thats when you can did "some" larger trees.

    Dig now and I give it a 1% chance of surviving.

  • Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
    10 years ago

    This is going to be ALOT of work by hand.

    Take it from a fool who transplanted a six foot ash tree a bunch of years back and FORGOT about the hours of labor vs the $40 savings and then transplanted a six foot crepe myrtle two years ago.

    Both lived.

    I think by hand 4' wide and 2' deep is the best rootball ya can hope for and I would vote for transplanting it as quickly as possible.

    Whaas is exactly right. Transplanting is all about percentages. Do everything right and 1% still die. But yeah, any chance you can wait would be better. FWIW I would give myself 8 hours and a 15% success rate.

    Below is a link to nursery which sells them. It is a neat project and darn it, if my neighbor asked me for help with similar I would help. But man, you can buy and plant a new one soooo much easier if you do not have heavy equipment.

    Here is a link that might be useful: my favorite semi local nursery

  • theresse
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Thanks everyone! I really appreciate your honest feedback, bummer as it is!

  • brandon7 TN_zone7
    10 years ago

    "Is that true?"

    No, most trees (and ginkgos do qualify) can be transplanted just about anytime the ground isn't frozen. There are better times (late winter to very early spring, and fall) and worse times (summer).

    "Is there a way to put it in the ground now, or is that just too great a risk?"

    By all means, if you do dig it up now, plant is ASAP!!! Keeping it potted or B&B is just going to add greatly to the poor thing's stress!

    "Any clue as to how deep I'll have to dig?"

    This link should give you a pretty good answer: Generic Rootball Size Guide

    "Is it a big deal if it's the kind that has the fruit with the rotten bad smell?"

    Not to me. As long as I don't pick the fruit up, get it on my shoes or hands, etc, the smell doesn't bother me. Some people are more sensitive to smells than others. Do avoid planting female ginkgos near sidewalks, driveways, or windows that are left open for fresh air.

    "Dig now and I give it a 1% chance of surviving."

    If the job is done correctly and proper aftercare is given, I think the chances of survival are actually very good, even if done now. The problem is that moving it now is going to increase the amount of effort for aftercare (watering) AND the tree is pretty big and will require significant effort to dig up and move.

  • ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
    10 years ago

    reviewing the cost/benefit ratio ... it isnt worth it ...

    spend $40 and get one mail ordered to your house.. and plant it in 20 minutes ... and begin to enjoy it ...

    ken

    ps: looking at just two variables.. how do you transport a 15 foot tree [tree plus roots] ... its isnt going to be sticking out the back of your prius ... [if you do.. get pix.. lol]

    and.. how will you lift the 2 to 3 HUNDRED pound ball and burlap [no pots here] into your prius??? .. and back out of it ...

    if you can not solve those two issues.. then why bother spending 5 hours digging it out ...???

  • sam_md
    10 years ago

    Hi Theresse,
    My experience with ginkgo tells me that it is adaptable and tough as nails. If you want it go for it, take your time and follow the simple rules in my link from the prof forum:

    Here is a link that might be useful: how to hand dig a root ball

  • whaas_5a
    10 years ago

    Gingko, along with Oak and Nyssa are not fall dig species at least in my zone 5.
    I've tried it myself (EDIT: And they died) and called around and they all told me spring dig only!

    Perhaps call nurseries in your area that do b&b and see what they say. If they state they do fall dig and you can figure out the other issues then give it a shot.

    I'm just realizing that you're zone 7 or 8 in Portland so it might be a completely different story.

    This post was edited by whaas on Fri, Aug 16, 13 at 10:23

  • Embothrium
    10 years ago

    Even when deciduous trees and shrubs dug in leaf defoliate afterward they aren't necessarily dead. But why bother with a big specimen you may not really be prepared to lift and transport, when you aren't specifically after the larger size?

    I see few ginkgo here demonstrating that they are seed-bearing individuals, one time I did encounter one it could be smelled about 300' away, across a college campus open space. I definitely would avoid planting known female ginkgo.

  • gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
    10 years ago

    Although August is not an ideal time to attempt this in OR, it can certainly be done. Depending on how carefully it is dug, how much rootball you are able to maintain and the aftercare provided, your chances of success could be as high as 75-80%

    There is absolutely NO reason why a ginkgo can't be planted now or later this fall (even into winter), certainly anywhere in the PNW.

  • Kimball
    10 years ago

    If you started growing them indoor, you can transplant it either in fall or spring. You can prune younger ginkgos in early spring. But I suggest you let the experts do it. If youâÂÂre around Australia, check out JimâÂÂs Trees .

    This post was edited by Kimball on Wed, Sep 25, 13 at 3:11

  • brandon7 TN_zone7
    10 years ago

    Kimball,

    You apparently didn't even bother to read the original post. All you did was post a link to SPAM! If you don't care enough to really participate in the conversation, why bother to post at all?

  • Kimball
    10 years ago

    Brandon,

    While I appreciate you pointing out that I missed the OPâÂÂs location, I also need to point out that I was only making a comparison. JimâÂÂs trees is the only arborist I have tried when I was there and only wanted to inform the OP that such services exist. I donâÂÂt know yet of any company here in the US offering the same services, though I may have to start looking for one as we need pruning services too.

    And also, before you say it is spam, do review all my other posts in this forum. As far as I can remember, I havenâÂÂt been endorsing or linking to companies. I have been on several forums before this, and I do have come across spam replies (who hasnâÂÂt). Do you honestly think my reply here is so far off topic that itâÂÂs a spam?

  • Kimball
    10 years ago

    Edit: "Sorry double post"

    This post was edited by Kimball on Tue, Sep 24, 13 at 23:46