Collecting a common juniper

[Alex DeRuiter]

Hey everyone,

I had one specific question about collecting a juniper from my yard. I'm not exactly sure what type of juniper it is, but this question relates to collecting in general.

I understand that when you're collecting you should retain as much of the root system as possible. I also understand collecting some of the soil from the root system and mixing it in when planting is beneficial to the tree as well (correct me if I'm wrong on that one). What I was wondering is, when I take the tree up, should I shake loose the soil and somewhat bare-root the tree, or should I leave the root ball intact and avoid shaking it?

Thanks in advance

(Pictures to come)

 

[Bill S]

Is it of the size you want or will you want it bigger?

 

[Alex DeRuiter]

It's at a good size. I chopped it back a couple years ago and it's growing very nicely. The only thing is it's somewhat hard to tell if it's one or two trees because it twists so much at the bottom. I didn't know if separating them was a good idea or not -- which relates to the question of whether or not to disturb the root system more upon collection.

 

[Bill S]

I tend to clean them up, but don't shake it, that can damage a lot of fine roots, the ones you want. I do mix some of the field soil back in for the first repot/potup.

If it is 2 trees use care unless you want to separate them. In doin so you may find it hard to do without cutting roots, they tend to really get intertwined.

 

[JudyB]

Alex, you could try a med hard stream of water to wash the roots off a bit, I find that this is easier on the roots, but still does the trick with most types of soils.

 

[Alex DeRuiter]

Bill, thanks for the advice. I was thinking shaking was a bad word to use. lol -- I see what you're saying. As for the multitrunkedness of the tree, I'm not sure if I'd want to use both. I'll post some pictures later to get opinions. I could always use the second trunk for some great deadwood features at the base. We'll see. If I do separate, I'll make sure to be careful.

Should I expect this tree to have a deep root system, or are junipers relatively shallow? Does it vary from species to species?

Judy, thank you as well. I was planning on spraying them, but I read that spraying them with a hard stream can do damage too. I suppose that's why you said "med hard," huh? We'll see how it all plays out.

 

[Bill S]

Root mass is a bit dependant on soil and age, I would wait till spring as well, unless you have a place to keep it unfrozen.

 

[Alex DeRuiter]

Oh I was definitely waiting until spring. I stuck a shovel in the ground all around the tree during spring this year in hopes to push the roots back a bit, so I'm hoping that will help with the collection process. But yeah, with Michigan winters I'm definitely waiting until spring to actually collect the tree. When I dig it I'll go as deep as I can to collect as many roots as possible.

 

[JudyB]

Yup, med hard, not a super hard stream. Or a harder diffused shower can work too. Next time you are planning collecting in a year or so, dig a trench around the tree, and fill in with some bonsai type soil, that'll give you some really nice feeders that are easy to uncover when you go to dig it up later. There are articles about this technique out there, I think bonsai4me has a good one... but could be evergreen garden works, they are my go to article sites.

 

[Ang3lfir3]

Alex,

I would like to point out that you said there were pictures coming... and I don't see them here.... so I am placing a formal request for pictures...

 

[Alex DeRuiter]

Judy, it's funny because I was just on Brent's site today looking for advice. lol -- Those are two that I've been referencing for a while now and I always seem to realize something new when I'm actually planning on a project like this. Thanks for the suggestion.

Ang3l, here ya go! I know they're quite terrible pictures, but they'll have to do for now. It's dark and raining, but oh well.

Keep in mind this isn't a project I want to be a masterpiece or anything. This is the first collection I'll ever make and I want it to be on something that I see potential in, but won't be a great loss if it dies. That being said, I like the character of the tree and don't plan on treating it as just an experiment. I think it has potential for a nice literari or something...but let me know what you all think.

 

[jk_lewis]

That's probably one tree, which is good.

Your biggest (or at lest one of them) problem will be deciding which trunk to make the leader. As is it is a Medusa-like tangle, going every which way. I tend to not like juniper with a lot of spiky deadwood, but that's probably the route you'll have to take here.

Have fun. It's worth digging.

 

[Alex DeRuiter]

Yeah, it's kind of all over the place. As for the leader, I plan on using the thickest branch. There's a branch in the first picture that goes off to the right -- that will be cut eventually, as will the thinner branch on the left side. I'm not a huge fan of spiky deadwood at the base either, unless it's done well. We'll see how this turns out. This will also be my first experience with deadwood, so it'll make things interesting.

Thanks for the response

 

[Ang3lfir3]

Interesting tree to ... that should be a lot of fun to work on.... be sure to keep us updated.... you will need to do a lot of work to push foliage down closer to the base but it can be done...

 

[Tona]

Common Juniper

Hey Alex,
That looks like a Tam juniper to me. Very common here in California. Not used too much as Bonsai because the foliage is hard to compact. It will be a good tree to practice carving and wiring on though. Good luck!!
Tona

 

[Alex DeRuiter]

I know, I'm excited to start working on it. I would wait to pull it out of the ground and work on pushing some foliage closer to the trunk, but my landlord said he was going to take it out and I got him to let me take it out in the spring instead. I'll just have to fertilize the hell out of it when I pot it in hopes that it'll compensate for not being in the ground.

Tona, I think they're very common here, too, though it seems to be a landscaping thing instead of being natural. I see them all over business lots. As for bonsai, it seems like it might be troublesome, but like you said it'll be fun to practice with. Thank you

 

[HotAction]

Alex, I think you can have a nice one. Plant it into a wooden training box, or cement mixing tub. Make sure it is very secure. Then, nothing but watering and feeding for at least a year. Then, the following year, you can begin to thin out and prune some of the existing branching. This will help let the light into the interior to begin strengthening the new shoots that will eventually be your branches. I've included a virtual of the shoots I would try to develop. Keep in mind, it may be a couple/few years before the main existing branching can be shortened back all the way. By then, you should have some solid growth to work with to build a decent structure. Have fun, and good luck.

Dave

 

[Alex DeRuiter]

Hey Dave, thank you for the advice and the virt! I was actually going to get some wood this weekend to make a box for when I plant it in the spring. I hadn't planned on doing anything to it until I know it's recovered. Do junipers bud back well, or do you think that'll be a slow process? It's already got some nice new growth from last year's pruning, so I'm hopeful.

I like the way the virt looks, and I think it'll look nice with some well done deadwood features. Since I have some time, I might try and work some bends into the branches to make for more interesting deadwood...but we'll see since it's all conceptual design right now. Not only that, but I have no clue what the nebari looks like yet.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Bill S]

Another good virt and plan Dave. Alex, you could do worse than follow what Dave is shooting for in the virt. .

 

[Alex DeRuiter]

Oh absolutely. I know I have the ability to absolutely ruin any aesthetic value in the tree. lol -- I had an idea in my mind, but it really depends on how the base looks. I'll have to work for a long time on getting it to bud back, if it's even possible to have it bud this far down...but we'll see. Anyone thing this'll be possible?