Best time to collect trees

[Kahless]

When is the best time to collect trees from the wild? I will be looking for elms, maples, and hornbeams. I live in southeast Minnesota where it sometimes snows in April , if that matters at all. Does it have to be before bud break? Can it be done in May?

 

[Njyamadori]

Yeah from what I know may will be good !

 

[BrianBay9]

Best is just before bud break. With some tough trees like elms you can collect much later. The month is less important than the conditions. The ground needs to have thawed, and hopefully the leaves not fully out.

 

[atlarsenal]

What Brian said and if you have freezing temperatures after collecting bring them into the garage.

 

[Tieball]

What @BrianBay9 says is right.

I've collected mostly American Elms. At a good bud swell has worked best for me. However, I have not Waited until leaves form. Almost always, for me in my climate which is not that far off yours, I have full recovery and strong growth through the growing season. I don’t garage trees but I will protect them over night, or day, if temps fall to below freezing. I just put the trees next to the house foundation under a deck. This has worked for me.

I have not had exciting results with Hornbeam or maple trees. It might just be me. But I’ve learned not to collect those trees. Too much work for killing a tree.