R3x
Shohin
I was looking for various alternatives. Some wannabe professional shovels are priced 3-4 times more expensive. So even it is a bit more expensive than I'd like it to be I gave it a try.
4000 sqare ft of free overgrown junipers. Advice needed
- Thread starter Mihai
- Start date
Mihai
Shohin
Heyya guys!
Sorry for dropping off the map after creating the thread but life happens and a lot of bull crap needed doing.
Thank you for all the replies.
@Vance Wood : Thanks for taking the time to reply Vance. The people at the nursery labeled them as Juniperus Communis so... if they got it wrong, so did I. Maybe the closeup pictures below can help ID them.
@rockm, @leatherback : Thank you for the advice guys. Sounds like a good battle plan. This is how we will move forward. As soon as I can take a couple of hours off work i'l go dig around the roots of the most promising ones.
@sorce : dude, triage is a light concept. We need a damned machete and a couple of serious gloves to actually get into that thicket without ripping our skin off.
@crust : you are right for the most part... . This is where the 'but' comes in... as I've said in previous posts, sadly the closest bonsai nursery is about 3-400 miles away, so buying pre-bonsai material from a specialized nursery is sadly a no go. My town is also 200 miles away from the closes hunting ground for conifer yamadori (juniper included). So I kinda have to settle for the practice material I can get my hands on. Not ideal, but at least I can get some practice on junipers before committing to the long long drive I told you about to get some good stock. Learn to not kill them at least.
@CWTurner : luckily, we can take as many or as few as we like. We'll pick the ones with the most potential and only dig those going forward. We have time until the end of next spring to do it.
@R3x : that's the meanest looking shovel I've ever laid eyes on! I want one!
And now for news. The ones we removed when I initially started the thread are looking good. There's new growth on almost all of them and I had a surprise this morning when my friend that's keeping them in his yard told me that he tried to move the containers and there are fine roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Only three of them are showing slight yellowing of the foliage.
I've finally had time to snap a photo of each.
Sorry for dropping off the map after creating the thread but life happens and a lot of bull crap needed doing.
Thank you for all the replies.
@Vance Wood : Thanks for taking the time to reply Vance. The people at the nursery labeled them as Juniperus Communis so... if they got it wrong, so did I. Maybe the closeup pictures below can help ID them.
@rockm, @leatherback : Thank you for the advice guys. Sounds like a good battle plan. This is how we will move forward. As soon as I can take a couple of hours off work i'l go dig around the roots of the most promising ones.
@sorce : dude, triage is a light concept. We need a damned machete and a couple of serious gloves to actually get into that thicket without ripping our skin off.
@crust : you are right for the most part... . This is where the 'but' comes in... as I've said in previous posts, sadly the closest bonsai nursery is about 3-400 miles away, so buying pre-bonsai material from a specialized nursery is sadly a no go. My town is also 200 miles away from the closes hunting ground for conifer yamadori (juniper included). So I kinda have to settle for the practice material I can get my hands on. Not ideal, but at least I can get some practice on junipers before committing to the long long drive I told you about to get some good stock. Learn to not kill them at least.
@CWTurner : luckily, we can take as many or as few as we like. We'll pick the ones with the most potential and only dig those going forward. We have time until the end of next spring to do it.
@R3x : that's the meanest looking shovel I've ever laid eyes on! I want one!
And now for news. The ones we removed when I initially started the thread are looking good. There's new growth on almost all of them and I had a surprise this morning when my friend that's keeping them in his yard told me that he tried to move the containers and there are fine roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Only three of them are showing slight yellowing of the foliage.
I've finally had time to snap a photo of each.
R3x
Shohin
Hey Mihai!
Looking good. I see you've taken on my advice on potting to cheap containers in original soil. I'm happy for you that they grow.
Regarding the shovel: you can order one on Amazon UK.
Looking good. I see you've taken on my advice on potting to cheap containers in original soil. I'm happy for you that they grow.
Regarding the shovel: you can order one on Amazon UK.
Mihai
Shohin
Part two .
Last two junipers are bought from a landscaping nursery just to play around with. And also some metasequoia we soil planted that will be air layered and turned into a forest.
Last two junipers are bought from a landscaping nursery just to play around with. And also some metasequoia we soil planted that will be air layered and turned into a forest.
Mihai
Shohin
Well, three weeks later and going strong. We lost one to a fungus but the rest are clean and backbudding like crazy. Cleaned out all the dead needles, the bark and the grass starting to grow in the containers.
So far, so good.
So far, so good.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
Impressive material, I envy you your abundance of material.
dirk hoorelbeke
Omono
This is a nice opportunity. The dug material looks good. I would let them grow for a few years. For some junipers you will be able to work with the original branches or foliage. For some you will have to step in and graft. You can only do this after they have developed some live veins because normally they will select some after hard cutback. For the rest i would go and chop back based on intended trunkline leaving enough foliage to survive the transplant. Select the best ones and tag them. Dig these at the best time, pot them in the best mix. For the others you will have to spread the work, so i would go for a digging in early fall. With that experience you will know how much time you need and make proper planning depending on the weather. You have a nice view and place to put the trees... Keep updating! (please)
defra
Masterpiece
Thats some nice trees some seem to have potentional
I think you are doing great work seeing the ones already in pot are growing confirms you are on the right track !
As dirk already said great view !
I think you are doing great work seeing the ones already in pot are growing confirms you are on the right track !
As dirk already said great view !
defra
Masterpiece
Still all alive?
Mihai
Shohin
Hey @defra. One died due to a nasty fungus. The rest are alive and kicking. Didn't touch them yet except to remove dead foliage and pull weeds from the pots. Except one. I worked the sicklyest one with the least potential. Sail what the hell... went for broke. If it lives ok... if it doesn't c'est la vie. The problem is the soil (still the original soil i pulled them oit with)... it's so bad it makes me cringe.
But now that i've maimed it, I actually really like how it turned out.
But now that i've maimed it, I actually really like how it turned out.
Mihai
Shohin
The stupid bit is that the foliage semms to continually go crispy behind the growing tips. Don't really understand it. If anyone has any clue...
defra
Masterpiece
Nice thats a good survival ratio imo
Foliage looks like my squamata juniper
Going crisp before the growing tip hmmm does the water goes all the way in or does it goes away between the rootball and the pot?
Could try to poke some holes trough the soil to let air and water get into the core maybe give some magnesium and mist them with foliar feed like fish emulsion
Foliage looks like my squamata juniper
Going crisp before the growing tip hmmm does the water goes all the way in or does it goes away between the rootball and the pot?
Could try to poke some holes trough the soil to let air and water get into the core maybe give some magnesium and mist them with foliar feed like fish emulsion
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
Try keeping the tree/trees elevated off the ground mist the foliage at least twice a day and do not roast them in the sun. Contrary to common teaching at this stage a bit of shade does them a lot of good.
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