Subject: air layering max

From: [email-masked] (Daniel Wong)
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 1995 17:58:34 GMT

Maybe this isn't the place to post but apparently most landscapers
lack the technical expertise to answer my questions:

What is the maximum diameter of  branch that can be air-layered
and what is the maximum diameter of trunk that can be transplanted
with rootball ? 

Thanks in advance,
Dan

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From: stephen fitzgerald <[email-masked]>
Date: 1 Aug 1995 15:38:58 GMT

>and what is the maximum diameter of trunk that can be transplanted
Maximum diam for arial layering and transplanting is probably about 3 
feet (1 metre) because after that it just becames too awkward!
The point being that it is highly species and budget specific. A willow 
branch can be lopped off and stuck in the ground  and if conditions are 
right then ... Instant tree! but an oak or Elm won't do the same. It 
depends on the species ability to generate specialised tissues - a large 
ficus branch of a 100 y.o. tree can be arial layered but a small 1 inch 
thick Eucalypt branch won't ever layer (well maybe in the lab). As for 
transplanting it is also fairly specific to species but trees with trunk 
diam. up to about 10 inches are commonly transplanted when they are young 
and vigourous but every so often somebody has enough money to hire a big 
enough crane to move a tree with a 2 foot diam trunk (pretty silly 
really!) and providing they take a large enough root ball and the rest 
(aftercare etc.)then it will survive.

Sorry I could'nt offer a simpler explanation!
If you want to move something call a qualified experienced arborist.

Bye

Stephen Fitzgerald