I have a fig tree my mother bought for me and had kept it in a pot. When mother died, I took the tree and repotted it into a larger pot. It lived in pots for many a year. Finally we bought a house in Sacramento, CA, zone 9, where we planted the tree. It likes the place it is in and has preformed well. It has been in the ground for about 4 years.

Here is my question: we are relocating and I want to take my mother’s tree with me. Will we realistically be able to dig up and transplant this tree? It is mid- March. The tree is approximately 6′ tall and about that wide. All tips have green swell I can see from the window. I am uncertain how deep the tap root might be and if trying to take it with me will kill it if we don’t get the whole tap root. I read about digging trees up and laying them down for winter so I feel a little more optimistic. How long would it survive when dug up if not put into a hole immediately? Would putting it into another large, really large pot keep it thriving? Would I prune it back a bit?

I hope to save it, but if this is a dream, how would I take cuttings from it? I read about putting cuttings in vermiculite and keeping moist, but what do I cut? I read another post and the man dug down a bit to get suckers – or babies. He said there was a bit of crown and a wee bit of root. His tree looked far smaller than mine.

Should I try getting cuttings as a fall back and try digging up the tree? I would feel bad if it is fairly certain I will kill it if we attempt digging it up.

I appreciate any advise you have as you certainly are wise in the way of plants. Thank you, Ellen