The 2026 Yamadori/Collecting Thread

[Joe Dupre']

I'm starting early this year. Glossy Privet from the infamous roadsides. It was on the back edge of the ditch bank, so the roots were much higher in the back. Didn't fit in a standard mortar tub so it went into the ground for a year or two. Really nice character, with some low branches to work with. I'll have to see what sprouts out of the main trunk to decide in which direction I'll go.

 

[Cap'n Paul]

New guy needs a little help...

It is my understanding that yamadori collection should happen in spring. But regardless, sometimes it isn't possible to wait. I collected a rather large white spruce and need to collect a couple more white oaks. Do I keep a large root ball until spring or go ahead and bare-root and repot now? I put the spruce in a large pot on top of a well drained substrate, my intent being to wait till late winter or early spring. I have a few days before I have to do anything with the oaks so I'm hoping to get some sage advice before I get the tools out. I see other posts that give me the impression that I could or might even should repot now. What are the considerations? Is the size of the collected tree a factor?

 

[Gabler]

If you're collecting out of season, keep the root ball as large as possible. Give the trees a year or three to fully recover, and then start reducing the root ball farther.

To the extent that any field soil falls loose, let it go, but don't scour the root ball of all field soil yet. Just fill in around the root ball with pumice or perlite, which should help wick excess moisture away from the field soil so it drains better.

Lastly, if you're in the northern hemisphere, protect the trees from freezing, but keep them cool (under 40°F) until spring. You should put your location in your profile, so you can receive more accurate advice.

 

[Erika_Leaman]

Collected two Pinus sylvestris from a raised peat bog today.
Posted about it in my on going thread here where I post about collecting trees and my work in the conservation of raised bogs

 

[AndyLec]

Collected two Pinus sylvestris from a raised peat bog today.
Posted about it in my on going thread here where I post about collecting trees and my work in the conservation of raised bogs

View attachment 626760

View attachment 626759

2 fine looking potential mame there. LOL. Good luck, hope they thrive, and look forward to seeing them in a few years.

 

[DeepSouth]

When the trees come out with this much root, it's basically just a repot! I'd say this one has a near 100% chance of survival.

Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia)

 

[DeepSouth]

This yaupon holly should be interesting in a few years.

 

[The Barber]

Guess I will add the trees I have collected so far.

American hornbeam 1

American hornbeam 2


Highbush Blueberry clump


Twin trunk American Beech

I think the next 3 are Nyssa Sylvatica, black gum.




This one didnt look so much like an ear till I cleaned the root ball.

 

[The Barber]

I wish the ice, snow, and ground would hurry up and thaw here in Kentucky. Got started on my collecting and need another fix. I have some pretty incredible hornbeams scouted out and looking forward to collecting. Supposed to be back up around 55+° this week though, so hopefully next weekend I can get back at it.

Heres some photos from my last outing. Would have dug more but when I got to my collection site, I realized I had left my shovel at home. Luckily I noticed my girlfriend had left a shovel in the bed of the truck after we unloaded mulch that could get me through this dig. My trusty sawzall, and 6 4Mah batteries do most of the work for me usually.

Sent to my girlfriend right after I messaged her "OMG, I left my ****ing shovel at home" (an hour away).

It lasted a whopping 2 trees. The last pry of the second tree and the handle gave out.

Anywhere, here are some I plan to go back for from that spot.

Size 12 boot for reference.

They look so small without the boot in the photo lol.

Hornbeams







Sweet gum, been looking for a nice one, found this, was happy to finally find one with movement as the really nice one I collected was one of the 3 trees that did not survive. Glad I realized it was dead before I dug it out of the ground!



Do you guys think this would make a good raft?

 

[Gabler]

Do you guys think this would make a good raft?

Yes, but good luck collecting it.

 

[The Barber]

Yes, but good luck collecting it.

Not sure on the species, but the branching it has is very fine, so figure it is worth a shot. Hopefully the big roots died back as well when the trunk rotted out or at least caused it to push roots near the trunk or it may not survive. Odd it has never grown a new trunk but has rolled over as well as it has.

 

[Gabler]

Odd it has never grown a new trunk but has rolled over as well as it has.

I suspect it may be part of another nearby tree.

 

[The Barber]

I suspect it may be part of another nearby tree.

That might be a good prediction. That hadn't even crossed my mind, but would explain why it has rolled over so well without having a lot of foliage. May need to do some exploratory digging first and remove some layers of soil and see what is going on before I just go extracting it. If it is part of another tree, then I will partially remove the connecting root and weaken the root (cut out a wedge leaving maybe 1/3 of the cambium in the hopes that it pushes roots of its own. Thanks for sharing the observation! I suspect it is an elm, so it may do ok regardless.

 

[DeepSouth]

I have collected 28 trees so far this season. Here is one. a twin trunk hornbeam, Carpinus caroliniana. I plan to go naturalistic style with this one. It is bigger than it looks in the photo, about 6" nebari, most of which is covered up. I left the trunks on each side a bit longer than I eventually want to have as these tend to die back a bit on me.

 

[The Barber]

I have collected 28 trees so far this season. Here is one. a twin trunk hornbeam, Carpinus caroliniana. I plan to go naturalistic style with this one. It is bigger than it looks in the photo, about 6" nebari, most of which is covered up. I left the trunks on each side a bit longer than I eventually want to have as these tend to die back a bit on me.
View attachment 628253

Same, I like to leave a few extra inches as American Hornbeam likes to die back for me as well many times. Sometimes a root will die back up the tree as well, but that is rare. Hoping to get out and collect trees this weekend as well if the rain holds out. At some point I plan on taking a week off work to do some collecting.

Got an invite to collect some monster BC down in Florida a while back. There is a big Chinese hackberry about an hour from the guy that I am highly debating driving down for. I will need a big trailer to haul the hackberry if I do so may as well take the guy up on the invite so it doesn't feel lonely on the 12 hour drive home .

 

[The Barber]

Did some digging yesterday.


This one had to go into a concrete tub and still barely fit. I cut it lower than this, didnt take a photo after, but it will eventually get carved. At the soil this tree was 12 inches when I dug it.

Fused American hornbeam and American elm, if they aren't Fused, then they sure are hugging each other tight. It is a big one. Will likely collect it today if I can motivate. Got Charlie horses in about every muscle in my body on the way home last night .

 

[Goodbrake]

Went out with some fine folk from the Austin Bonsai Society, and snagged a couple of cedar elms.

 

[The Barber]

Better shot of the base of the bigger hornbeam I dug Monday. The root ball was so heavy, even being as shallow as it was..and quite the hike out. Lost my root hook and dark was closing in so didnt have time to remove soil. It will get cut back more, but I never cut them super low as hornbeam tend to die back quite often.

 

[DeepSouth]

Collected this bald cypress a couple of days ago. The buttressing is awesome on this one and the peeling/mottled bark adds dimension. I'd day it has a very high chance of survival. Base is about 14"

 

[DeepSouth]

buds are popping on about a quarter of my collected trees. This coming weekend is probably my last chance for collecting this season. The second half of February is repotting time.

Swamp Dogwood


Chinese privet


Laurel Oak


Swamp Chestnut Oak