From little things

[MattA]

This is a few of my little trial pieces of various local Leptospermum collected last season, all now have good root systems & are being fed as per normal. A couple are being allowed free growth while a few others have been tip pruned.

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This is my latest piece, collected approx 4wks ago & is starting to push new buds at various spots on the old wood as well as the tips of the remaining live foliage. Getting a good size rootball is essential and only removing about half the soil when potting, leaving the inner core intact (this can be tackled in future repots once strong). Some growth needs to be left but I have found that all will bud back from dormant buds at the base and to various degrees along the trunks.

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Comments, questions always welcome.

Matt

[Steven]

Some great material Matt!

Did you do anything special when collecting? What was your aftercare and success rate?

Regards,
Steven

[MattA]

Thanks Steven,

I dont do anything special when collecting, the only losses were if a tree had been bare rooted in the field or during potting (about 5 from the earliest attempts). I usually soak trees in rain water & pot up within an hour or 2. You can remove a fair bit of outer soil but do not bare root. Pot in whatever mix i have on hand (soil/compost/mulch/potting mix & gravel roughly 50/50) and out in the sun with the rest of my trees. Until you have positive root growth its imperative to ensure no lose of moisture for even a short time, but dont flood them either. Lepto roots are very fine & need to breathe as much as stay moist.

With smaller trees I use a knife for keyhole removal, it is the easiest way to remove a single small plant with good roots/soil & almost zero disturbance of adjoining plants. These are slipped straight into small pots with local soil, they can be slip potted into regular mix or left in natural soil until established again.

Matt

[ben the barbarian]

They look great. Fun material to work with.

If you don't mind me asking, what sort of places do you collect trees like these from?

[Steve Warren]

I have had alot of success with little lepto also. I have kept most of mine in the shade after collection with a good success rate. One larger one went straight into the ground in full sun and has come back strong. I have found alot of my small trees with good stumps and trunks under powerlines in the bus were they get mowed down low on a regular basis.

[MattA]

Ben,
All of these have come from local bushland that is in the process of becoming suburban hell.

Steve,
They are a great lot of trees to play with & under powerlines is always good pickings. Some feel it is unethical, others have less an issue, for myself what is most important is the survival of the plant once collected and ensuring minimal damage to the environment it came from.

Matt

[Steve Warren]

Back again,

I have taken about 12 small trees from under powerlines over the last two seasons and have always made sure they a spead out. I didn"t have any ethical issues at the time but a recent post has made me think twice. I spend alot of time under powerlines as we ride dirt bikes alot in these areas. I am sure I will see lots more potential stock but i will learn to look the other way alot more now. I am sure there will be the odd irresistable one along the way.

Steve W.

[Andrew F]

Back again,

I have taken about 12 small trees from under powerlines over the last two seasons and have always made sure they a spead out. I didn"t have any ethical issues at the time but a recent post has made me think twice. I spend alot of time under powerlines as we ride dirt bikes alot in these areas. I am sure I will see lots more potential stock but i will learn to look the other way alot more now. I am sure there will be the odd irresistable one along the way.

Steve W.

Something Matt pointed out to me in the field is as long as that tree is under those powerlines they are going to get hacked, i wouldnt think twice about lifting a tree from there or a road side. If theres a chance of man interfering with it, it might as well be in your collection getting pampered feed and watered.

[MattA]

Back again,

I have taken about 12 small trees from under powerlines over the last two seasons and have always made sure they a spead out. I didn"t have any ethical issues at the time but a recent post has made me think twice. I spend alot of time under powerlines as we ride dirt bikes alot in these areas. I am sure I will see lots more potential stock but i will learn to look the other way alot more now. I am sure there will be the odd irresistable one along the way.

Steve W.

Something Matt pointed out to me in the field is as long as that tree is under those powerlines they are going to get hacked, i wouldnt think twice about lifting a tree from there or a road side. If theres a chance of man interfering with it, it might as well be in your collection getting pampered feed and watered.

Steven, I stay away from ethics, it gives me a head ache....I use my own guidelines mentioned in other posts & judge each tree on its own case.

Drew, It helps to know your space...That area is part of the greater Cameron Park development, the lines are being redirected to run along George Booth Drive so more housing & a shopping centre can be built down by the drainage lakes and another hundred or so acres of forest gets demolished... its ok there is lots more (isnt there?).... besides..Woolworths has already signed a lease like we need yet another shopping centre on an artificial lake

Matt

[Andrew F]

Back again,

I have taken about 12 small trees from under powerlines over the last two seasons and have always made sure they a spead out. I didn"t have any ethical issues at the time but a recent post has made me think twice. I spend alot of time under powerlines as we ride dirt bikes alot in these areas. I am sure I will see lots more potential stock but i will learn to look the other way alot more now. I am sure there will be the odd irresistable one along the way.

Steve W.

Something Matt pointed out to me in the field is as long as that tree is under those powerlines they are going to get hacked, i wouldnt think twice about lifting a tree from there or a road side. If theres a chance of man interfering with it, it might as well be in your collection getting pampered feed and watered.

Steven, I stay away from ethics, it gives me a head ache....I use my own guidelines mentioned in other posts & judge each tree on its own case.

Drew, It helps to know your space...That area is part of the greater Cameron Park development, the lines are being redirected to run along George Booth Drive so more housing & a shopping centre can be built down by the drainage lakes and another hundred or so acres of forest gets demolished... its ok there is lots more (isnt there?).... besides..Woolworths has already signed a lease like we need yet another shopping centre on an artificial lake

Matt

Dear god,

I think i might come back out for another crack at finding some good material. A woolies is typical.

I think that idea needs 2