The dilemma. I have two in-ground citrus planted in the wrong place. I need that space desperately for something else. I have two container citrus that are actually doing much better than those in the ground.

I rescued these (Improved Myers Lemon and Bearss Lime) as tiny dying trees in tiny bands on sale from Walmart 1 1/2 years ago. They are semi-dwarf, which actually means they are basically standard. They are growing like weeds, and I can't have them do that where they are.

When can I transplant them (time of year)?

What is the best way to get them out of the ground with the least stress?

Thanks for your suggestions!
Suzi

I hate to reply to my own post, but there have been viewers to this one, and I got a really good answer over at the container forum at Garden Web.

In case any of you have the same need, here is what you do:

Wait until late summer and root prune with a sharp spade. Think of an octagon or stop sign. You'll make 4 plunge cuts at the N,S,E,W sides in late summer. In late fall, make 4 more plunge cuts that represent the other 4 sides of the octagon - Ne,Nw,Sw,Se. Sever the roots a couple of inches outside of where the original root mass was. This will force the roots to 'back-bud' and grow more roots closer to the trunk so when you lift it in spring it will be able to sustain itself. Make sure you water as required after root pruning. When you lift & pot it up in spring of '11, treat it like any other citrus repot and remove wedges of roots totaling about half of the roots. Complete the repot in the spring of '12.

That was from poster Tapla!

Any other suggestions will be welcome!
Suzi

This has been discussed several times on this forum in the past. You can find this same information in several different posts by using the search function on this forum. By severing the roots the year before you intend to transplant the tree, it causes the root system to forum new side roots according to the "Four Inch Rule". If you have ever pruned the end of a branch (removing the meristem tissue) you notice that starting approximately 4 inches back, the branch will produce new lateral shoots. A tree's root system reacts in the very same manner, by producing additional side roots. Later if you prune the new side roots, even more side roots will be developed (again according to the Four Inch Rule). However, personally I would not remove wedges of roots when transplanting. - Millet (956-)

DesertDance, When I saw the reply at GW, I guess I didn't read the last line. I certainly would not remove 50% of the roots of the tree after you bring it up from the soil. If you severed 2" inward from the total size needed (i.e. if your destination is a 20" pot, then severe at 18") that will allow the remaining 2" for growth room in the pot.

Knowing how much to sever and how much of the canopy to prune/keep inline with the root prune is difficult to gauge as it depends on a number of factors. Spreading it over a year period is certainly the best idea. However, your weather is extremely arid and hot, more than mine, so it is even more critical to keep as many roots once you remove it from the soil.

As a test on Feb9 of this year, I pruned ~30-40% of roots off a very healthy 3 yr old Valencia. It was perfectly in balance with a canopy and strong root ball. My intention was to keep the root size down to keep it in the existing 15" container. The only roots I removed were downward on thick stems about double the size of a pencil and I tipped the end of the trunk. I pruned the top very lightly (cut back one or two branches). I put it in a shaded position, so it only got morning sun. It was near dead three months later, having dropped nearly all it's leaves immediately when warm spring @80F+ hit. It declined identically to 3 other trees that had severe root loss from frost the year before, even though there was no root loss prior to pruning. I should've pruned the canopy more and not have pruned so many roots at once, esp only 6 weeks before warm spring. I tossed the tree.

I have pictures at http://cid-cbb4716c1c47fe7d.photos.live.com/browse.aspx/Public/PUB%5E_2010%20Containers/c06%20Valencia%20Prune%20Failure?view=thumbs


My 2 cents...