Amber
moving a cycad
I would like to move an old and large cycad. It was here when we moved in 10 years ago and now the leaves are as long as 3m and fruits every year. Would it survive a move? How far and wide do the roots grow?
Submitted: 09:47AM, 23 Aug 2010
Answer:
You are very fortunate indeed to be the proud owner of a lovely, mature cycad that fruits every year. Obviously its very happy growing in its current location. To move such a plant would be very risky as its roots would have spread far beyond its leaves dripzone, in this case, in excess of 3 metres from the crown of the cycad. (There would also be precious feeder roots extending beyond this area.) You would literally need to use a bobcat to remove the plant without causing any damage. A deep trench would have to be dug around the diameter of the plant and the entire rootball collected. Theres no guarantee the cycad will survive the move, I suggest leaving it be unless it poses a threat.
Answered:
12:49PM, 01 Sep 2010
Comments (1)
wendy
Yates site member
08:33, 20 November 2010
I moved 18 months ago to a house with a very, very large front garden covered in bark but with very few plants. I have since been trying to plant up a native garden but the roots from the two established trees here are making this almost impossible. I cannot afford to bring in truckloads of soil and the roots will move up into it anyway so have just been digging large holes before I plant and hacking through the roots and filling with decent compost and then mounding above natural level. Things are very slowly growing but when I can,t even get Liriope to grow I am wondering if I am fighting a losing battle. I have put newspaper down as well !!!!!Has anyone out there had a win with this problem ????
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