What happens to a fully grown fruit tree if it is transplanted?

Fruit trees are so cheap…why not just plant a new one?

I will say this…

If you must transplant it’d be better to do so in Autumn, if you want the tree to survive.

If you feel you have to do this now, you will need a professional’s help. The tree would most likely need to be cut back some…it would need the fruit plucked so it didn’t have shock this year.

You will also have to deal with a root ball the size of a small house. Pros don’t move large trees on the cheap, either. I agree with the purchase of a new smaller one. The roots need to establish themselves first; fruit comes later.

If you have a year to make the decision, you might want to consider air layering. The link talks about ornamentals, but I have recently spoken with an arborist who says it works well with fruit trees, especially if they have been grafted (as many commercially available trees are). Also, instead of using sphagnum and poly film, put the stem, past the wounded portion, into the neck of a plastic bottle (e.g., milk jug) and fill up past the wound with potting soil.

Perform the layering in the spring, support the area (sphagnum or plastic pot) through the summer, and cut below the wound in the fall when the tree starts to go dormant.