Transporting a tree at an angle

[Notsureaboutplantnames]

Our long time friend of 93 can no longer manage his trees or much else in his life and has asked me to care for them until he "feels better". He lives 3 hours from us where it is Hot as heck (yesterday was 95 during our visit). He would like them to be moved soon so they don't die or become damaged before they can be relocated. Fairfield CA is just entering the hottest months of the year.

I have moved all but one. Its a nice Blue Atlas Cedar 34" tall and will not fit in my car upright. Not in the rear or on the rear seat. (Though while writing this I will investigate removing the back seat (2013 BMW X5 if anyone has done this.)

But the biggest issue is he does not have it wired into the pot and its already pretty wobbly with minor pressure. I have no idea how long its been since the last transplant but my guess would be quite a long time.
Well rooted? Maybe not but the top looks good.

I read the thread about using an enclosed trailer or vehicle but the issue of the plant moving around in the pot will need to be addressed regardless.

So, to my question. How to best secure this tree to the pot so I can load it and have it set at an angle of about 45*. The trunk runs almost parallel to the media and over one side is the first branch.
Put the whole pot in a plastic garbage bag, close it up as tight as possible with packing tape.
A couple 2x4's parallel to the trunk, wired around the base of the pot and wire with tubing holding the tree to the 2x4's. Maybe use more 2x4's and on the sides to make a "box".

 

[TomP]

You can wire it into the pot by threading wire through the bottom holes and tying off at the top as if you are doing a regular repotting. It will look a bit amateurish but should do the trick. If it is root bound you may be able to pull the tree out of the pot to lay the wire as normal and then replace the tree in the pot

I usually find it easiest to wrap the pot tightly in plastic (multiple layers of kitchen plastic wrap will do. I use bags of soil to set the tree at an angle and hold it steady. That way you can adjust correctly. I built a box years ago for this but results were not as good as with the bags.

Good luck

 

[BrianBay9]

I second the cling wrap idea. Also consider, if you have a three hour trip with a large portion of the foliage hanging out a window you'll need to protect it. Wrap the top too. You don't want to expose the top to 3 hrs of 80 mph wind at 100 F and 30% humidity.

 

[Ruddigger]

Thread the wire up from the bottom, like Tom said.

 

[Jetson1950]

I feel a great sense of sadness for your friend. I am not that far behind him in age and I’m already wondering how to manage all my trees when the time comes. I’m sure everyone agrees they are the same to us as other folks cats and dogs or other pets we become attached to. You are a Saint to help him manage his trees and protect the things that give him joy. I salute you and your caring nature.

 

[Notsureaboutplantnames]

I feel a great sense of sadness for your friend. I am not that far behind him in age and I’m already wondering how to manage all my trees when the time comes. I’m sure everyone agrees they are the same to us as other folks cats and dogs or other pets we become attached to. You are a Saint to help him manage his trees and protect the things that give him joy. I salute you and your caring nature.

They will always be Barrie's trees, I will be the caregiver.

 

[Notsureaboutplantnames]

You can wire it into the pot by threading wire through the bottom holes and tying off at the top as if you are doing a regular repotting. It will look a bit amateurish but should do the trick. If it is root bound you may be able to pull the tree out of the pot to lay the wire as normal and then replace the tree in the pot

I usually find it easiest to wrap the pot tightly in plastic (multiple layers of kitchen plastic wrap will do. I use bags of soil to set the tree at an angle and hold it steady. That way you can adjust correctly. I built a box years ago for this but results were not as good as with the bags.

Good luck

Great idea. The tree is not root bound, so I should easily be able to move the pot to the edge of the table and push it up through.

 

[August44]

Our long time friend of 93 can no longer manage his trees or much else in his life and has asked me to care for them until he "feels better". He lives 3 hours from us where it is Hot as heck (yesterday was 95 during our visit). He would like them to be moved soon so they don't die or become damaged before they can be relocated. Fairfield CA is just entering the hottest months of the year.

I have moved all but one. Its a nice Blue Atlas Cedar 34" tall and will not fit in my car upright. Not in the rear or on the rear seat. (Though while writing this I will investigate removing the back seat (2013 BMW X5 if anyone has done this.)

But the biggest issue is he does not have it wired into the pot and its already pretty wobbly with minor pressure. I have no idea how long its been since the last transplant but my guess would be quite a long time.
Well rooted? Maybe not but the top looks good.

I read the thread about using an enclosed trailer or vehicle but the issue of the plant moving around in the pot will need to be addressed regardless.

So, to my question. How to best secure this tree to the pot so I can load it and have it set at an angle of about 45*. The trunk runs almost parallel to the media and over one side is the first branch.
Put the whole pot in a plastic garbage bag, close it up as tight as possible with packing tape.
A couple 2x4's parallel to the trunk, wired around the base of the pot and wire with tubing holding the tree to the 2x4's. Maybe use more 2x4's and on the sides to make a "box".

View attachment 611216View attachment 611232

Maybe I'm missing something here, but why can't you put wet shredded paper all around the top of the soil so it is above the pot a bit and then wrap the pot and tree up good and tight with the stretch wrap with a handle.? You could lay it down or do just about anything you want with it then.

 

[River's Edge]

You can wire it into the pot by threading wire through the bottom holes and tying off at the top as if you are doing a regular repotting. It will look a bit amateurish but should do the trick. If it is root bound you may be able to pull the tree out of the pot to lay the wire as normal and then replace the tree in the pot

I usually find it easiest to wrap the pot tightly in plastic (multiple layers of kitchen plastic wrap will do. I use bags of soil to set the tree at an angle and hold it steady. That way you can adjust correctly. I built a box years ago for this but results were not as good as with the bags.

Good luck

I have found this approach to be the safest. The only additional tip I would mention is to add loose soil mix to the surface before wrapping with the plastic wrap so there is no wiggle room between the nebari and the pot rim. I also usually shroud the foliage and secure the main branches or trunk with rope around cloth wrap to prevent twisting or tilting. The use of bagged pumice or soil to secure the angle and position is very effective.

 

[Notsureaboutplantnames]

Thanks for everyone's input. The tree was picked up yesterday and made it home in good shape.
I used some thick copper wire threaded up through the bottom wire holes, put a short piece of plastic tubing over the wire that ran across the trunk and twisted it up as tight as I could.
Then we placed a nice thick towel over the media and finished off with some self adhesive plastic wrap. Placed a 4x6 for it to lay on, and a sand bag under the bottom. I also put some of the foliage that was close to the floor in a milk crate to keep the top from bouncing all the way home.

Super happy to care for this tree. The second image better shows the trunk line. The top needs help, at some time the apex was lost... The wire is loose but not bad for a 92 year old.

 

[Potawatomi13]

A very nice tree. It has a nice natural looking openness of a mature mountain tree .

 

[leatherback]

good to hear it arrived in one piece. Marvellous old bark on that one!