collecting trees in adelaide hills

[smashedlense]

So i have collected a couple trees over the past year on digs and all of them have died. What is a good time to dig trees in the adelaide hills and any good places for them? Im determined to get a couple this year and not actually kill them. And help appreciated.

[KIRKY]

It would help to know what you are collecting?
Cheers
Kirky

[ace2weather]

I live in Adelaide and last year at the wrong time of year, I managed to get 2 sheoaks and 8 bottle brushes (6 survived).
The first 3 sheoaks kicked the bucket, but since placing collected trees in a 2*2m greenhouse, I managed to keep lots of stuff alive....
That includes a rosemary that every one said was hard to transplant.....
So the green/hot house might be the key......

[peterb]

Hi smashedlense, as kirky said , it would help to know what you're collecting. I live in adelaide and have collected. If it's olives you're collecting it would help to know how you're going about it
Peterb

[smashedlense]

Any tree! Im trying to expand my collection with new stock. I havent got anything particular im looking for. Was after more info on when is the right time. Unless every tree is different, i was just assuming theres a right time of year for digs. Still fairly new at bonsai.

[smashedlense]

The trees that have died on me have been pines dug up with the sa bonsai society dig. Planted at home in big pots and removed half the needles, and than watered and fertilized as normal. Few months later remaining needles turned yellow, dropped off and trunk was bo longer green just below the bark (as i was told this is a sign of tree drying up??).

[kcpoole]

Ok sao what tree species? and yes the dig time for them is possibly different.
the after care and treatment is also likely to differ with species too
the amount of root and local weather will also affect the outcome

collecting tree success is not done to a single forumula

Ken

[smashedlense]

Ok sao what tree species? and yes the dig time for them is possibly different.
the after care and treatment is also likely to differ with species too
the amount of root and local weather will also affect the outcome

collecting tree success is not done to a single forumula

Ken

Thanks. Thats all i wanted to know. So it depends on what tree species im looking for. Is there a general rule of thumb for most trees as a guide or no?

[KIRKY]

No
Cheers
Kirky

[kcpoole]

Ok sao what tree species? and yes the dig time for them is possibly different.
the after care and treatment is also likely to differ with species too
the amount of root and local weather will also affect the outcome

collecting tree success is not done to a single forumula

Ken

Thanks. Thats all i wanted to know. So it depends on what tree species im looking for. Is there a general rule of thumb for most trees as a guide or no?

Not really,
The generalisation for the best time to collect is" When they are not actively growing"
That means for most trees ( deciduous or pines and junipers), in winter or early spring,

Ken

[smashedlense]

Ok sao what tree species? and yes the dig time for them is possibly different.
the after care and treatment is also likely to differ with species too
the amount of root and local weather will also affect the outcome

collecting tree success is not done to a single forumula

Ken

Thanks. Thats all i wanted to know. So it depends on what tree species im looking for. Is there a general rule of thumb for most trees as a guide or no?

Not really,
The generalisation for the best time to collect is" When they are not actively growing"
That means for most trees ( deciduous or pines and junipers), in winter or early spring,

Ken

Thanks!!!!
That answers my question!

[peterb]

Hi smashedlense
Seems like you like to start with the hard stuff , pines are tricky mate . The radiata I dug , was dug up in late autumn and watered with roots excelerator twice a week for a few weeks and then only water and seasol once a week for the first year before I started any fert , has pulled through very well . When I dug it up I got as much root as possible and kept all the original soil just filling around it with diatomite. I think that's the secret with pine don't mess to much with the roots . I reckon try something easier perhaps like olives you can almost dig them up any time or english elms late winter , although I dug one up in late jan and it seems to be pulling through pretty well. Natives it seems need to be dug up in summer . Hope this helps
peterb

[smashedlense]

Hi smashedlense
Seems like you like to start with the hard stuff , pines are tricky mate . The radiata I dug , was dug up in late autumn and watered with roots excelerator twice a week for a few weeks and then only water and seasol once a week for the first year before I started any fert , has pulled through very well . When I dug it up I got as much root as possible and kept all the original soil just filling around it with diatomite. I think that's the secret with pine don't mess to much with the roots . I reckon try something easier perhaps like olives you can almost dig them up any time or english elms late winter , although I dug one up in late jan and it seems to be pulling through pretty well. Natives it seems need to be dug up in summer . Hope this helps
peterb

Cheers mate. Yeah the radiata pines dug were from mt crawford forest with a club. Only thing i could find worth digging that day. I have just planted a couple olive cuttings so hopefully they take off. Also got an ash i dug up recently so will have to wait and see how that one goes. I seem to have problems with trees unless there already stablished in a pot

[peterb]

Hi smashedlense
when you say olive cuttings , are you meaning the whole stump flatbottomed or are you meaning small cuttings. With olives you can dig them out , cut the ligno tuber at the fattest part place into finer diatomite mixed with coir peat 50%- 50% and should be good .
peterb

[Luke308]

The trees that have died on me have been pines dug up with the sa bonsai society dig. Planted at home in big pots and removed half the needles, and than watered and fertilized as normal. Few months later remaining needles turned yellow, dropped off and trunk was bo longer green just below the bark (as i was told this is a sign of tree drying up??).

Guessing these would be radiata?

I have been on a few digs for them and had quite good success. I was told by a experienced member to keep in collected soil, mist daily but not to water the roots at all for 6-8 weeks. Definitely not fertilise nor remove needles.

I have had goo success in late autumns through to late winter. Try and collect as much of the root ball as possible and don't disturb the roots.

The other key piece of advice I was given with pines is not to to anything to the top of the tree in the same 12 month period as you do anything below the soil. Ie if you dig, don't try and prune/style/wire etc for 12 months.

Check out my first dig which is a work in progress - viewtopic.php?f=131&t=15814

And others suggestions for pine collection here - viewtopic.php?f=131&t=20579