BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
New article from: https://bonsai4me.com/collecting-de...6__zK6mDtDZv7yRo8x3p8L0W-Vqa4LRk1_db51YjeqM_k
"The roots of deciduous trees are very active in the late Summer and throughout the Autumn. Having spent the growing season photosynthesizing, a tree will have been involved in the heavy production of sugars through its leaves. As a result, the sugars (as starch) then need to be stored within the trunk and roots in preparation for leaf-fall and the cold winter months. To store as much of these life-giving sugars, the above-ground growth of deciduous trees will slow to a standstill in August leaving the tree to concentrate on the production of new roots.
Collecting deciduous trees during September through to the beginning of December takes advantage of this strong growth under the surface of the soil, at a time when temperatures are cooling and transpiration (loss of moisture) from the leaves is greatly reduced. The earliest start to this collecting season is dependent on your local climate. By September in the UK, night temperatures have dropped to the low double figures, typically the ground will no longer be dry and by October the first autumn colours will be seen on some trees. These are the signs that I can safely go and collect!
It is important when using this timing not to wait until the tree has become too dormant for fear (because the tree is still in leaf) of failure.
Although some deciduous species, and individual specimens, can be successfully collected throughout dormancy, these Autumn months will often yield the best results and survival rate. Having spent the past 3 years collecting Yew, Elm, Pyracantha, Field Maple Hawthorn, Birch, Beech, Blackthorn and Dogwood from early October onwards, along with my apprentice Sean Stop, we have been able to identify that there is a reduction in our success rate from early-December onwards (typically 4-6 weeks after leaf fall).
The fact that Sean and I have now collected a large number of trees from the same locality and use very similar methods to revive them in gardens just a mile apart, has allowed us to compare notes and draw conclusions as to the best times to collect and maintain aftercare. Our findings have then been followed in New Zealand by fellow enthusiast Samuel Brierley who has confirmed that Autumn collecting is as good as, if not better than, collecting in Spring as is traditional."
"The roots of deciduous trees are very active in the late Summer and throughout the Autumn. Having spent the growing season photosynthesizing, a tree will have been involved in the heavy production of sugars through its leaves. As a result, the sugars (as starch) then need to be stored within the trunk and roots in preparation for leaf-fall and the cold winter months. To store as much of these life-giving sugars, the above-ground growth of deciduous trees will slow to a standstill in August leaving the tree to concentrate on the production of new roots.
Collecting deciduous trees during September through to the beginning of December takes advantage of this strong growth under the surface of the soil, at a time when temperatures are cooling and transpiration (loss of moisture) from the leaves is greatly reduced. The earliest start to this collecting season is dependent on your local climate. By September in the UK, night temperatures have dropped to the low double figures, typically the ground will no longer be dry and by October the first autumn colours will be seen on some trees. These are the signs that I can safely go and collect!
It is important when using this timing not to wait until the tree has become too dormant for fear (because the tree is still in leaf) of failure.
Although some deciduous species, and individual specimens, can be successfully collected throughout dormancy, these Autumn months will often yield the best results and survival rate. Having spent the past 3 years collecting Yew, Elm, Pyracantha, Field Maple Hawthorn, Birch, Beech, Blackthorn and Dogwood from early October onwards, along with my apprentice Sean Stop, we have been able to identify that there is a reduction in our success rate from early-December onwards (typically 4-6 weeks after leaf fall).
The fact that Sean and I have now collected a large number of trees from the same locality and use very similar methods to revive them in gardens just a mile apart, has allowed us to compare notes and draw conclusions as to the best times to collect and maintain aftercare. Our findings have then been followed in New Zealand by fellow enthusiast Samuel Brierley who has confirmed that Autumn collecting is as good as, if not better than, collecting in Spring as is traditional."
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