Bad time of Year to collect

[fore]

There's a listing on craigslist for a couple lg junipers http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/zip/4082640530.html

They are not willing to wait till spring to have them dug up. Would these be worth the energy to collect at this bad time of yr? I can provide some winter protection.

I'm kinda thinking not, but am interested in what others think.

 

[coppice]

I collected two Box about now last year, they're fine...

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

If the trunks are worth trying, go for it. The challenge will be getting them bound up so you can dig them out without cutting back much foliage.

 

[fore]

I was thinking the same thing Brian recalling how much foliage you left on your recent trip. If I do this, I was thinking of just putting it somewhere in the backyard, in the ground. I don't have room for these monsters.

Thanks for everyone's help!
Chris

 

[Dav4]

They look BIIIGGGG.....which means a lot of digging and yanking and pulling, followed by more digging and yanking and pulling...I'd really make sure the trunks are worth the effort. Good luck if you do go for it.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

In ground = bad idea...
Lots of foliage, and very little soil in a tight wooden box. We are still 13/14 from our last trip!

 

[Robertji]

In ground = bad idea...
Lots of foliage, and very little soil in a tight wooden box. We are still 13/14 from our last trip!

Really curious to know why planting in the ground is a bad idea Brian, what is the idea about little soil and a tight wooden box?

Thanks, Jim.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Really curious to know why planting in the ground is a bad idea Brian, what is the idea about little soil and a tight wooden box?

Thanks, Jim.

Jim, it's critical to control moisture, and it's hard to do that in the ground. Juniper roots grow slowly, so you want to limit the amount of soil (and the moisture it retains) to "just enough". They don't need a lot of soil to grow a lot of roots. Soil temps are warmer in boxes too.

When I collected RMJs in '10, I dug 3, put them in the ground, and lost all 3 in a couple months. This year, I collected 4, similar conditions, but put them all in boxes, and all are thriving. In fact 13/14 we collected were boxed, and are doing great.

They are here:
http://nebaribonsai.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/collected-rocky-mountain-junipers/

 

[fore]

They look BIIIGGGG.....which means a lot of digging and yanking and pulling, followed by more digging and yanking and pulling...I'd really make sure the trunks are worth the effort. Good luck if you do go for it.

Good idea Dave, I've asked them for a photo of the trunks. If they don't give me any photos, I'll pass.

 

[fore]

Jim, it's critical to control moisture, and it's hard to do that in the ground. Juniper roots grow slowly, so you want to limit the amount of soil (and the moisture it retains) to "just enough". They don't need a lot of soil to grow a lot of roots. Soil temps are warmer in boxes too.

When I collected RMJs in '10, I dug 3, put them in the ground, and lost all 3 in a couple months. This year, I collected 4, similar conditions, but put them all in boxes, and all are thriving. In fact 13/14 we collected were boxed, and are doing great.

They are here:
http://nebaribonsai.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/collected-rocky-mountain-junipers/

Really Brian?? All 3 in ground died? That's surprising, and interesting to learn about excessive moisture problems. Thanks for sharing your experiences!