Collecting in central Texas some feedback and a question - How early?

[Travis911]

I have been collecting mostly Cedar Elm and a few Live Oaks for 4 years now. In that time I have figured out my methods and aftercare pretty well. Up until, last year I had a nearly 90 percent survival rate for a good dozen trees a year between early Feb. and early march before bud break. 2 years ago I dug a couple after bud break and had one live and one die. Last year I had a collecting buddy and we collected for a few weeks later past bud break. Major fail. Both of us lost about everything after bud break and everything before survived.
So we won't be doing that again! If it has leaves then leave it.

This year we are looking at starting earlier. Maybe early January? In central Texas we are talking about sporadic mild days with an occasional freeze. The ground stays soft so that's not a problem. I am wanting opinions on collecting earlier as long as we take care of the trees afterwards in case of a freeze. Seems like it would give us a little more time to collect.

Please give me your thoughts and I will post back to this post on the experience.

 

[aml1014]

@Zach Smith collects in winter, he's also in the south. Maybe he'll chime in.
I collected as early as January where I live when the ground was still frozen and it lived.

Aaron

 

[sorce]

Earlier....even prefreezes has worked for me...

I would collect some test specimen ass early.

Go 2 weeks early this year, may be a month the next.

Collecting shittier material the earlier you go...until you know you are good.

Sounds like your yard is gonna get outta hand real quick!

Nice!

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Travis911]

Well I'm out in the country on 8 acres so lots of room. But the wife does think it's crazy. It's more about having a bigger window of time to do the collecting and plan out the trips a little better so the wife doesn't notice more trees showing up every other day!

 

[Zach Smith]

I have been collecting mostly Cedar Elm and a few Live Oaks for 4 years now. In that time I have figured out my methods and aftercare pretty well. Up until, last year I had a nearly 90 percent survival rate for a good dozen trees a year between early Feb. and early march before bud break. 2 years ago I dug a couple after bud break and had one live and one die. Last year I had a collecting buddy and we collected for a few weeks later past bud break. Major fail. Both of us lost about everything after bud break and everything before survived.
So we won't be doing that again! If it has leaves then leave it.

This year we are looking at starting earlier. Maybe early January? In central Texas we are talking about sporadic mild days with an occasional freeze. The ground stays soft so that's not a problem. I am wanting opinions on collecting earlier as long as we take care of the trees afterwards in case of a freeze. Seems like it would give us a little more time to collect.

Please give me your thoughts and I will post back to this post on the experience.

I collect most species in the dead of winter; in fact, collecting season for me begins January 2nd of each year. Freeze protection is the same as for the rest of your trees. Nothing special.