Another winter collection thread

[aml1014]

I work at a nursery and everyyear in the fall after the first freeze till the last freeze of the winter is considered time to dig trees, considering the only difference is we pot ours up right away do you guys think it would be fine to dig some maples (acer negundo to be specific) January 2016, wrap them in burlap and replant until spring at which point id pot them up as usual?

 

[Zach Smith]

Acer negundo, otherwise known as box elder, is a terrible species for bonsai. Not to be too discouraging, but your energies are better spent elsewhere.

For what it's worth.

Zach

 

[aml1014]

Acer negundo, otherwise known as box elder, is a terrible species for bonsai. Not to be too discouraging, but your energies are better spent elsewhere.

For what it's worth.

Zach

Thanks, I know someone who has beautiful box elder and they do well here but thanks for the reply

 

[Zach Smith]

Good deal. I hope yours do well.

Zach

 

[aml1014]

Good deal. I hope yours do well.

Zach

I've looked on your site a lot and like your stuff, do you have any advice in general towards my question?

Aaron

 

[Zach Smith]

If you get an intact rootball, wrap in burlap and keep moist till spring, I'm thinking they should come through fine. If you can heel them into a prepared bed or aged mulch pile, better still.

Zach

 

[0soyoung]

I work at a nursery and every year in the fall after the first freeze till the last freeze of the winter is considered time to dig trees, considering the only difference is we pot ours up right away do you guys think it would be fine to dig some maples (acer negundo to be specific) January 2016, wrap them in burlap and replant until spring at which point id pot them up as usual?

I think it would be okay, but I suggest that you wrap them tightly in polyethylene (visqueen or some such) instead of burlap. Poly transmits oxygen but not water, so the roots will get oxygen while the moisture in the root ball is maintained (won't waterlog, won't dry). I understand that Dan Robinson treated all his yamadori this way, sometimes keeping them in 'papoose wrap' for several years.

 

[aml1014]

If you get an intact rootball, wrap in burlap and keep moist till spring, I'm thinking they should come through fine. If you can heel them into a prepared bed or aged mulch pile, better still.

Zach

Hey Zach I just read your latest post on your blog and was wondering if you thought I'd be able to bare root and cut the roots back hard as you did the hawthorn in your post?

 

[Zach Smith]

I always bare root the deciduous trees I collect. As for cutting the roots back hard, I can't comment on aftercare for box elders as I don't collect them. Swamp maples, another local native maple down here, don't collect well. It's been suggested to me by a local club member that harder root pruning may be at issue, but I haven't tested the theory yet. Would love to hear of your experience with the box elders, though.

Zach

 

[aml1014]

I always bare root the deciduous trees I collect. As for cutting the roots back hard, I can't comment on aftercare for box elders as I don't collect them. Swamp maples, another local native maple down here, don't collect well. It's been suggested to me by a local club member that harder root pruning may be at issue, but I haven't tested the theory yet. Would love to hear of your experience with the box elders, though.

Zach

I will keep you guys updated I may not bareroot til early spring bit I'm planning on setting up multiple trips for the next few weeks and I'll most likely plant them out until it warms up a bit.

Aaron

 

[Nwaite]

Sorry if this is a stupid question. ...but I'm a dit confused.

Are you talking about going out and digging up trees in frozen ground? Or are you talking about very mild winter type of weather?

 

[augustine]

Will be no problem if collected properly

 

[Zach Smith]

Sorry if this is a stupid question. ...but I'm a dit confused.

Are you talking about going out and digging up trees in frozen ground? Or are you talking about very mild winter type of weather?

My ground doesn't freeze in winter, nor does it have stones in it. So I'll have to leave that sort of collecting to you folks.

Zach

 

[Dav4]

Sorry if this is a stupid question. ...but I'm a dit confused.

Are you talking about going out and digging up trees in frozen ground? Or are you talking about very mild winter type of weather?

Ground that is frozen more then 2-3 inches deeply would be impossible to dig without a backhoe. I suspect he's digging in unfrozen soil.

 

[aml1014]

Sorry if this is a stupid question. ...but I'm a dit confused.

Are you talking about going out and digging up trees in frozen ground? Or are you talking about very mild winter type of weather?

It's only about the top inch and a half thats frozen so not too bad, my plan is to collect a few and put them in an air pot that is buried right now then in spring I'll just pull up the air pot, bare root, then pot them up.

 

[Nwaite]

Ok thank guys!

I have like 3 inches of snow and frozen ground... that's why I was asking.

 

[Cypress187]

Now then? Can we break out our shovels?

 

[aml1014]

Now then? Can we break out our shovels?

Depends, where I am anywhere in the shade all day stays frozen, but if it's in the sun it's totally thawed this time of year.
I just picked up this shrub live oak on Wednesday.

Aaron

 

[Cypress187]

Depends, where I am anywhere in the shade all day stays frozen, but if it's in the sun it's totally thawed this time of year.
I just picked up this shrub live oak on Wednesday.Aaron

Frozen? Maybe 2 weeks ago it was frozen for 1 day What if i collect now, and next week it freezes for like 2 weeks, do i only need to protect it or will it be lost?

 

[aml1014]

Frozen? Maybe 2 weeks ago it was frozen for 1 day What if i collect now, and next week it freezes for like 2 weeks, do i only need to protect it or will it be lost?

We are still freezing here consistently every night so as long as you protect them they'll be fine. Also the level of protection depends on the root system of the tree and how well they take to collection and freezing temperatures.

Aaron