How to Replant Lemon Trees

A lemon tree in a bad location can fail to bear fruit.

A lemon tree can add much needed shade and a pleasant fragrance to your garden, but it can also pose a problem if it is in the wrong part of your garden. If your lemon tree is becoming more of an obstacle than an enjoyable addition to your yard, it may be time to replant it into another part of the yard. Use care and caution when replanting your lemon tree or it may fail to produce a harvest or even die.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Water
• Fabric strips
• Bucket
• Wheelbarrow

Instructions

1. Dig a receiving hole for your lemon tree. Taller trees require a bigger hole, but it can be difficult to dig a hole any deeper than 10 feet without renting heavy digging equipment, so if you have a fully developed lemon tree it may be quite a task to dig a fully adequate receiving hole. Instead, just make the hole as wide and as deep as you possibly can.

2. Pour water into the receiving hole to ensure there is plenty of moisture for your lemon tree's tender roots. When it comes to relocating your lemon tree, water is what it will need most in order to regain its strength.

3. Tie fabric strips around the branches of your lemon tree in order to keep the tree's branches from bending and breaking. For trees larger than 6 feet tall, this method will not work and you will need to be more cautious when you move the lemon tree.

4. Set a bucket full of lukewarm water right next to the lemon tree. The bucket must be large enough to accommodate the root ball of the lemon tree. When you dig up the roots of the lemon tree, you want to set it directly into the water to protect the roots of the tree so that it does not go into shock.

5. Dig a hole around the roots of the lemon tree that is as deep and as wide as the receiving hole. Unfortunately, you may need to cut the roots of the lemon tree in some places. Avoid cutting them if possible, though, in order to keep your tree as healthy as possible.

6. Pull the tree from the ground once you completely dig around and under the roots. Put a smaller tree (less than 4 feet in height) into the water filled bucket and immediate relocate it to the receiving hole. For a larger tree (more than 4 feet in height), set it in a wheelbarrow and move it to the new location as quickly as possible.

7. Set the tree into the receiving hole and position it so that it stands straight. Keep the roots from bending at extreme angles if possible. Quickly cover the roots with soil.

8. Pack the soil around the roots of the lemon tree to help it stand more firmly in the soil. Pour a generous supply of water over the roots of the tree in order to reduce the chances of shock.

9. Remove the cloth bindings from the tree if you used them. The cloth bindings, if left on the tree, may prohibit the new growth of branches, leaves and lemons.

Tips & Warnings

• Only replant your tree in the dormant season. Never replant the tree while it is flowering or it is baring its lemons. When your lemon tree is dormant, it is less likely that the replanting process will harm it.

• The tree has a greater chance of surviving the move when it is smaller. Only move larger lemon trees if absolutely necessary because of their greater chance of dying or failing to grow a new harvest.

• If your lemon tree is too large to replant on your own, consider asking a friend to help, or hiring a professional.

References

• Thrifty Fun: How to Transplant Trees
• North Dakota State University: Transplanting Trees and Shrubs