Question
I will be moving soon and would like to take along the pear and plum trees that I received on Mother's Day about 3 years ago.  They are both flowering now.  Which would be the least damaging to the trees, to transplant them now while they are blooming or to wait until the fruit is set?  I am concerned about the trees surviving, not about getting a crop this year.  Any other information you can provide about transplanting would be greatly appreciated. I live in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Thanks, Dorothy

Answer
Of course the Best time is when they are dorment but since that is not possible I would do it now when it is blooming and not wait until the fruit may set. When you dig the trees make sure you dig a large ball of dirt with the roots this will help in the shock of the transplanting. When you dig the new hole for the trees dig one at least twice the size of the root ball with dirt and only as deep as the original ball. Mulch around the new set tree and water at once a day fo the first couple of weeks. This is going to be a big job depending on the size of the trees.