To ask stranger if I can dig up their tree in the garden?

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You could ask but I really think it would be unlikely to survive. If you know what variety it was, get another one and plant that instead. You could ask the new tenants for a cutting, but it is difficult to do this unless you are an expert. Cuttings need to be made correctly and need to be done at the right time of year. A new tree is more likely to survive and you can dedicate it to your late parents, maybe even put a small commemorative plaque at the base of the new tree. I do wish you luck. I managed to dig up an old rose plant from the garden of my childhood home and plant it in a large pot. I even moved house with it and it has survived. But I did seek expert help... The new owners built a massive extension and paved over the rose garden 😞. But they were lovely people and I still talk to them on social media. They have brought up their twins (now 10) in the house I was born in. That's a kind of continuity, which gives me peace. My parents had the house blessed by the vicar, as it was a new build (in 1954). It was sold to the new people in 2014, exactly 60 years later. They are only the second owners and were planning to have the house blessed by their local religious leader (they are Sikhs). They are making their own memories, as we continue to make ours. Learning to let go peacefully is a blessing too. Xxxxx

It will be very expensive to dig up, transport and replant and it may very well not survive. Plant another one of the same type. A cutting may not grow well as lots of fruit trees are grafted onto specific root stock. Could you ask to take a picture of it in bloom or fruit and get a large print nicely framed for your house?

How big is the cherry tree as you will have to dig a hole as deep as the tree is high and the hole has to be twice as wide to accommodate the roots. I do think it's very unlikely that the current tenants will allow you to dig it up to be honest.

That tree was planted for your Mum. why not plant a new tree in memory of both your parents which will have meaning to you. I think a mature 12 year old tree wouldn't survive a move & it'd be so sad if it died after re planting. If you live close to the old bungalow then every time you pass have a little look & remember those memories with a happy smile.

She can get it grafted

While I went to scroll down to, it registered my touch as you're being unreasonable, I would like to say I definitely don't think it would be unreasonable to do that. I'm so sorry for your loss, I would definitely knock and explain the situation and what the tree means to you and your family. Tell them you didn't have the chance to dig it up after losing your dad, because you had to deal with everything else. 🫂🫂

♥️

Oh my goodness what a lovely thing to do !! Very kind and considerate.

Edit

Could you ask if you can take cuttings and then pay a gardener to do it and replant them for you? Failing that could tou get a special tree for your garden and maybe have a little plaque made with your m and d’s names ? So sorry gor your loss

What a kind thing to do @MegsNaiceJam :)

Cuttings are not technically difficult - the main thing is to be emotionally prepared for failure. Grafting is technically difficult but you can have quite a successful plant without grafting; it just wouldn’t be up to commercial standards.

@WaffleDogg20 Same thing happened to us! We had a letter from the granddaughter of the couple who used to own our house. They asked if they could have what was now our cherry tree.

We love the tree, but understood why it was very sentimental for the granddaughter. We knew it wouldn’t transplant well, so we had a tree surgeon cut down a large (ish) branch that wouldn’t damage the tree. We then got a wood turner to make a bowl, a photo frame and some wooden hearts from the cherry wood. One heart was threaded onto a piece of leather to make a necklace.

We also took photos of it in all seasons and sent some pressed blossom to her.

Had she not asked, we would never have known. She was very happy with her cherry wood gifts. Could this be an option? You only need a small branch for wooden hearts. Perhaps if this can’t happen for you, a cherry wood something from Etsy might help the memories?

This would be the best plan, I feel.

I'd investigate if you can plant a cutting in rooting powder and just take a cutting from the tree and nurse it to maturity.

See my link further up the thread.

No, this isn't how it works.

You can graft scion wood (that is, a piece taken from the tree the OP wants to keep) onto a rootstock. It could be you graft at ground level (so the whole tree, above ground, looks like the OP's tree). Or, you could graft onto a rootstock already grown (and, on prunus, often already grafted once) into a trunk. This is called top-grafting.

In either case, the branches must grow from the scion wood - the piece taken from the OP's tree - not the branches.

You can see why this is complicated and why the OP needs to 1) check with the owners what they'd approve and 2) talk to a nursery that will do a grafting service.

Could you get a fruit tree grower to help if you explained the situation? Cherry tree cuttings are often grafted onto a rootstock. They then grow a trunk and branches from the rootstock. The tree would be genetically identical to your parents' tree and you would avoid the risk of your parents' tree not surviving the move.

I’d consult a tree surgeon and ask the new owners if you could take cuttings from the original tree and grow a new tree from the cuttings. I totally understand where you are coming from. I have a cherry tree that my dad planted for me and I often talk to it/him. Good luck

I'm sorry! I think I misread your tone - I took your 'gardening for beginners' comment as snippy. I do see you didn't mean it that way!

It probably wouldn’t survive a move - is it possible to take a cutting from the tree? Or have a painting /photo of the tree you could frame? Create something from the blossom/petals?

@Feeding543Frenzy I think these are all really wonderful ideas and I was going to suggest similar. I'm sure even the meanest of people surely couldn't deny you taking a few pictures and a few cuttings/leaves/blossoms.

Please ensure you take a few cherries too if possible.

It's so incredibly easy to grow a cherry tree from seed if you follow instructions (I've done it before from a simple guide on Instagram - I used two or 3 cherry seeds and they all took).

Just think, if these are all edible you could then plant them and have a little cherry orchard of your own, with an abundance of memories and a wealth of cherry-making memories too.

Good luck.

I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss - I know how much things like this can mean so much.

If you dig it up you will probably kill it so it may be best just to leave it in the other person's garden and be glad someone else can enjoy it.

I think WashableVelvet's suggestion of asking for some cuttings is the most practical idea here. Given the tree is 12 years old, the roots would be extensive and tree might not survive transporting and replanting - you would be distraught if anything happened to it. Not to mention the job of rectifying the hole etc, think current occupants might baulk at that, and be less reluctant than letting you have cuttings. Cuttings would be from the same tree your parents loved, and grow hopefully into an extension of the tree and the ongoing love you shared (if you don't have green fingers, maybe get someone to assist with job). Good luck!

but you don't typically propagate cherry trees from cuttings, do you?
Well, exactly! Which is why my advice would be that a cutting wouldn't be successful. Really can’t see why you think my reply is nasty, but I apologise to the OP if it comes cross that way.