So, I found this amazing tree...

[Wee]

The problem I had with the junipers I collected was 1st they were huge in size...about 4 to 5 feet in dia. All the branches had rooted into the ground so digging was a real pain. I just couldn't get enough of the root system back in the ground. I did the best I could and even put a few buckets of sand on top and watered it in to try to fill the gaps around the roots.....It just didn't work. They were nothing great anyway and the guy was going to pull them up with a Jeep if I didn't get them....So no real loss there anyway.

My soil where I put them was pretty rich and they were in the shade.

Here is a link to pics of the dig on my blog.....
http://vendo80.blogspot.com/2013/07/junipers.html

Brian

 

[edprocoat]

Guys, really? I myself am completely at a loss with what is going on with this tree. Do we need to have an argument about who knows more or less than the other? I find this entire thread confusing, and I agree the first post was only a day ago so how could he have collected it? Don't call me stupid, just call me ignorant

Yea this whole conversation lost me too ! I was wondering about the comment " I think the tree may be dead" thing. I guess the private conversation would have been best in a PM since the topic it seems was from an entirely different forum.

ed

 

[Paradox]

Really guys, this wasnt so damn hard to understand......even I got the jist of it.

Eric referenced a juniper posted on IBC and there were two conversations going on: this tree and the IBC tree in comparison. I understand where the confusion came from but damn, a little review and careful reading should have cleared it up instead of getting into a pissing match.

 

[Eric Group]

Woah, sorry everybody! I didn't realize this thread had turned into... This! LOL

I plan on stopping bye the house tomorrow to ask for the tree... Hopefully they will be home!

I caused some confusion by referencing that other tree and that was my bad... Never found that link!

Thanks for all the constructive replies!

 

[Eric Group]

Go look at bases.

I thought it was somewhat similar to that other tree, I guess that is why I mentioned it, but that other tree looked larger than the one I am after I think. Both have crazy looking bases though for sure!

 

[Eric Group]

Vance, I'm pretty sure he's referring to the tree highlighted in this thread over at IBC...
http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t13984-need-some-quick-help-on-a-cedar

That's the one! Someone posted a link to it here as well...

After review, these trees do look a bit alike!

I recall being floored that the guy found such an amazing piece of material... Now I am starting to think it is more possible than originally thought. Commonly people view these old trees as more of an eye sore than something beautiful like we all view them!

 

[Vance Wood]

I thought it was somewhat similar to that other tree, I guess that is why I mentioned it, but that other tree looked larger than the one I am after I think. Both have crazy looking bases though for sure!

What ever the reason crap happens. You might want to learn a lesson from what happened to the other guy. From what I understand he did not get enough roots with the tree and then had no decent place prepared for the tree once he got it out of the ground. These kind of things shouldn't be done on the fly. I would recommend building a box big enough to hold the tree kind of along the lines of my training planters. I think you have seen them before, but you will get some pretty decent recovery times.

 

[Eric Group]

What ever the reason crap happens. You might want to learn a lesson from what happened to the other guy. From what I understand he did not get enough roots with the tree and then had no decent place prepared for the tree once he got it out of the ground. These kind of things shouldn't be done on the fly. I would recommend building a box big enough to hold the tree kind of along the lines of my training planters. I think you have seen them before, but you will get some pretty decent recovery times.

I have seen your training planters, and a box along that size is kind of what I think I would put It in. If they say yes, I will schedule the transplant for early Feb.- gives me enough time to prep something for it. The wood I build mine out of is super cheap!

I have always been to,d a good rule of thumb for root spread is something comparable to the spread of the branches- sound about right to most people here? I know I can't get ALL the roots, but I want to get enough to keep it happy without having to remove much growth right away..

 

[Vance Wood]

I have seen your training planters, and a box along that size is kind of what I think I would put It in. If they say yes, I will schedule the transplant for early Feb.- gives me enough time to prep something for it. The wood I build mine out of is super cheap!

I have always been to,d a good rule of thumb for root spread is something comparable to the spread of the branches- sound about right to most people here? I know I can't get ALL the roots, but I want to get enough to keep it happy without having to remove much growth right away..

Collecting a tree grown in an urban environment is usually rewarded with a half way decent root system. However you never know. If you have a saws-all you might find it handy in the event you have to cut some large roots. The cleaner the cut on large roots the better for the tree.

 

[PaulH]

Roots are good but you don't need a lot for junipers to survive. the most important factor I have found is maintaining the foliage on collected junipers. This means humidity. Leave as much foliage as possible and keep it misted until growth begins. Roots shut down on collected junipers until foliage growth starts again. Bottom heat helps too. My collected junipers that I've planted directly into training pots have done the best. Every collected juniper I've put into the ground has died. Collected junipers planted in pumice in training pots and kept in timed misted greenhouses with bottom heat have nearly 100% survival.

 

[Paradox]

If you do get permission, another thing you might want to bring along is some thing to seal the ends of any roots you have to cut asap. Also, dont know how far you have to go with the tree but maybe some wet towels to wrap around the roots so they dont dry out too much?

Good luck

 

[Poink88]

... Also, dont know how far you have to go with the tree but maybe some wet towels to wrap around the roots so they dont dry out too much?

Good point but most of the time, foliage protection is the one forgotten which is as important as protecting the roots...especially when transporting on an open vehicle (and traveling fast )

 

[Vance Wood]

If you do get permission, another thing you might want to bring along is some thing to seal the ends of any roots you have to cut asap. Also, dont know how far you have to go with the tree but maybe some wet towels to wrap around the roots so they dont dry out too much?

Good luck

We used to use wet burlap, not so heavy and it can be cut as large or small as you wish. If you know what you are doing it is also possible you can ball the roots up with the field soil and reduce that amount of stress on the root system you have to pack out of the woods.

 

[Eric Group]

We used to use wet burlap, not so heavy and it can be cut as large or small as you wish. If you know what you are doing it is also possible you can ball the roots up with the field soil and reduce that amount of stress on the root system you have to pack out of the woods.

Yeah this is pretty much what I did the last time I transplanted some trees... I was using landscape cloth though- all I had available and the tree had compact roots because I had ground planted them myself from pots about 4-5 years prior... I just wet the root ball, wrapped them up and put them in my truck- they seem to have come through it fine, but that was in early Fall so I will know better after winter... I know the Azalea I dug is doing well and he was eaten up with a black fungus of some sort, after a couple treatments and a few eels on the pot he started trying tot grow out new growth... Kept trying all winter long so far! I hope that bodes well for a big growth explosion in the Spring! I also got a Maple, an Elm, A Dawn Redwood and a Juniper all at the same time. I am most concerned about the Redwood... He wasn't real happy in the ground (verge of death is probably a better description), so I am trying to save him by moving him to a pot with a good soil mix.

 

[Eric Group]

Well I went and asked today, and the answer was a clear NO. The guy wouldn't even open the glass exterior door to talk to me! I tried to be as nice as possible, smiled a lot, offered to replace it with something he would like... He would barely even talk to me. I know he doesn't see it the same way I do, doesn't care about the character of the tree... But he clearly didn't want to make any kind of deals with me.

Bummer...

Oh well, at least I know now!

 

[coh]

Keep an eye out...maybe he'll sell the house at some point and you'll have another chance with new owners.

 

[Eric Group]

Keep an eye out...maybe he'll sell the house at some point and you'll have another chance with new owners.

Yeah if I happen upon the buyout in his yard I might try again and up the ante a bit... I am not a man of great means so I can't offer him what the tree might be worth- looking at it again today... It is really amazing stock! I don't want to bother guy but I do want his tree!

I am in sales too, not used to people saying no to me very often! LOL

 

[bonsaibp]

Should've had smoke do it in his thong.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Should've had smoke do it in his thong.

OH MY! Bawahahahahahaha


Sorry for the firm NO! I would still pay attention...when you drive by. One never knows the situation. And why he was so hostile. Could have just had a really bad day...or going through something. Or...does not wish to have his yard in disarray.

I would continue to pay attention when you drive by. See if you notice anyone else in the yard...mowing it. Or what have you. And try maybe again. At a much later date.

 

[Emrys]

Maybe you can offer to buy the house. Dug it up and then sell the house.