Pine collecting

[Cypress187]

I have a chance to collect pines/saplings from a field nearby because they want remove all tree's*. The soil/mud where they are standing in is very compact and bad, and I was wondering what is the best approach to get them collected / in bonsai soil / not kill them?

When collecting deciduous i remove all bad soil by any means, but on the first pine today it was hard I also wanted (and need) to keep as much roots as possible, please help! I want to collect / rescue as much as possible (it's not everyday I can collect pines until I drop dead, and I still have space, wuhahaha..).


*(they want to make a field of some sort, i think it's called heath in english, (i think they want to grow some Erica cinerea and/or Calluna vulgaris? there)

 

[sorce]

Sounds like a rough situation either way.

I'd bare root some, and leave some in old soil.

Every day is a day after rain right?

So you got that going for you!

Sorce

 

[Cypress187]

I'd bare root some

Is that possible? Just soak/wash?

and leave some in old soil.

'Pure' old soil? Plant those in the ground?

What you mean with the rain? You mean the soil is always wet if in the old soil?

 

[petegreg]

What's your intention, to plant them in the ground or in pots?

 

[Cypress187]

What's your intention, to plant them in the ground or in pots?

I have room for 1 in the ground, maybe more, and the rest in pots / baskets.

 

[petegreg]

Well, I don't have good experiences with collecting pines from muddy soil. It's always a lottery. Personally I collect them from a gravel (old copper mine remnants).

There're 3 choices, I think. For those going to the ground, leave all root ball with original soil. In this case you'll have to deal with old soil removal later.

Second one is barerooting, not a safe way for pines, but keeping them in pot with original soil can be worse.

The third and I think the safest way is to bare root some part (up to 1/2) of roots and the rest will be done next time. In this case, remember it when watering.

In any case of bare roots, I recommend using ecto mycorrhizae. And the best time is when the candles start to elongate. You can try all possibilities, I hope this helps.

PS: ...and avoid any other insults - wiring, pruning...for 1-2 seasons.

 

[sorce]

What you mean with the rain? You mean the soil is always wet if in the old soil?

You're supposed to dig em well watered of possible!

I think PG nailed it.

Sorce

 

[Cypress187]

ecto mycorrhizae

Oh really, you mean I'm not done?.. I will never look the same at conifers after this. Can I grow it or use old soil to generate it? I guess I like the ground idea much more now.

 

[petegreg]

You can buy it, or use some old soil mixed in new substrate, if it's present. If you use the "ground idea", you will be again in the same situation - repotting to pot in the future. I might try all possibilities, it could be interesting to make some statistics, if you have more collected pines. Mind some aftercare, shade for a few weeks and misting twice a day if it's not rainy period

 

[Cypress187]

You can buy it, or use some old soil mixed in new substrate, if it's present.

Can I grow it in just the substrate (only a pot, no tree) or is it always symbiotic with the pine?

and misting twice a day if it's not rainy period

I will plant them at my parents place, my mom and dad are retired, so perhaps they can even talk to them sometimes.

 

[petegreg]

It's symbiotic with pines and other species. Google for dirty details. Writing about mycorrhizae supplementation I have to admit it's not "must be" but from the category " might/will help".

 

[petegreg]

Here're some good articles that can make collecting and repotting easier:
http://walterpallbonsaiarticles.blogspot.sk/2009/10/collecting-trees-from-wild-english.html?m=1

http://ofbonsai.org/techniques/bonsai-collecting/collecting-basics

http://yamadori-passion.blogspot.sk/2010/01/my-guidelines.html?m=1

http://www.kaizenbonsai.com/bonsai-tree-care-information/graham-s-guide-to-repotting-bonsai

 

[M. Frary]

No need to add the mycorrhizae. It grows naturally. There are lots of different kinds. How do you know you are putting in the right one.
When you collect a conifer you should leave the soil on the roots in order to recuperate. You might half bareroot it but you are already putting extreme stress just by digging it up.
I would get them out with as much soil and put them in a colander or nursery bucket for at least this year. Watering will suck but you should have some survivors. Next year or the one after maybe go in and do a half bareroot like Adair describes.
Collecting trees and having them live isn't as easy as just digging them up. Aftercare is of the utmost importance. You have just put more stress on the tree than it has ever experienced or ever will by collecting it. Remember,it was growing happily in the soil and spot it was in before you came along and changed all of that. It takes trees a lot more time to adapt to something like that than you or I.

 

[sorce]

mycorrhizae supplementation I have to admit it's not "must be" but from the category " might/will help".

I think your best bet would be to use some of the old soil.....

Or bag a couple bunches of left roots, and shake some old soil from them into your mix for the barerooted youngins.

I'd trust the old soil before purchased myc.

Sorce

 

[Bunjeh]

http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATcollectring trees from the wild W Pall.htm

Great article by Walter Pall on collecting trees.

 

[Cypress187]

I've collected 3 so far (2 medium and 1 tiny), and made more room in my parents garden ;P Also called a friend of mine, he offered some space last year, time to collect my space

Here are some pic's from the field (all the tree's have to go, and most likely be killed within 1 or 2 years, to restore the (red/brown)-grass/shrubs (as a field):



Wider shot:



So basically all the low stuff is mine, mine.. There are a lot of straight 'perfect' tree's I hope I find more interesting one's between then or otherwise I'll just collect saplings.

 

[Dalmat]

I've collected 3 so far (2 medium and 1 tiny),

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[Vance Wood]

I've collected 3 so far (2 medium and 1 tiny), and made more room in my parents garden ;P Also called a friend of mine, he offered some space last year, time to collect my space

Here are some pic's from the field (all the tree's have to go, and most likely be killed within 1 or 2 years, to restore the (red/brown)-grass/shrubs (as a field):

View attachment 96997

Wider shot:

View attachment 96993

So basically all the low stuff is mine, mine.. There are a lot of straight 'perfect' tree's I hope I find more interesting one's between then or otherwise I'll just collect saplings.

Even if this is the best you have at your disposal it is far better than what you might find in a nursery. I am assuming these Pines to be Pinus Silvestres; Scots Pine and believe you guys call them forest Pines. They back bud like crazy meaning that you can harvest some really nice trees in taking trees that may be too tall for a good bonsai and hack them down to a size that makes the lower trunk significant in comparison. You then regrow the rest of the tree from a couple of lower branches and all the back budding they give you.

 

[sorce]

Nice Cypress!
And pics!

Hearing from VW makes me wonder if you ought not wait till after Fathers day to get some.....

Further...
I'd dig the rest according to the moon.
@Dalmat is on point with this schedule.
Seems you wanna dig em from about a 10 day old moon, to a twenty day old moon.

I'd love to see you pull some on and off this schedule, and take notes.

Either way......
Don't break your back.....
Watch out for spiders!
And clear that field!

Sorce

 

[CWTurner]

all the tree's have to go

If you have a year or two, I would get in there and hack some of them down to a foot or so; trample a few; bend some over and weigh them down with a rock; machete off one whole side; cut the roots to about 1 foot circumference.... in short give them hell. See what happens by the time they need to go.
CW