wild cherry

[Corwyn13]

So I found a wild cherry tree in the back yard of my friends new house. It's in an overgrown area and he wants to clear the whole lot.
IT has flowered and is leafing out. IS it too late to dig up and transplant at this point? I already talked him into leaving it till next spring if we have to.
But if I can I'd like to do it this year so I am not holding him back from any plans.

 

[Michael P]

Better for the tree if you wait until next year. But maybe better for the friendship if you do it now.

 

[jradics]

If the lot is getting cleared, the tree is doomed anyway. try to save it.

 

[rockm]

If it's a small tree and you can get most of the roots, dig it now. If it's large, and you have to chop most of the roots off, wait til next spring.

 

[Tieball]

The lot will be cleared. I’m sure your friend has plans for grass or other landscape growing and digging up next year will create a messy situation for your friend. Not good. Dig it up now with an extra large rootball. Plant it back in your yard with as little root disruption as possible. Clean up the cut on ragged root cuts caused by the shoveling that you can see. Keep in in the ground and well watered for the next couple seasons. It could be done.