how do i choose which melaleuca to dig?

[Jamie]

hey people.

in the recent time i have been here i have seen some awesome mel's. and around my local area there is an absolute abundance of them. i am wondering what i should be looking for in a tree to dig?

for example what sort of size in height, trunk, folaige etc. what i will be looking for is shohin size trees for a final product as my back doesnt allow me to have big trees anymore ( on another not i have a couple of bigger trees i might be selling soon but i havent decided yet).

i am obviously looking for something with tight foliage? yes? good movement? etc.

hopefully pup can guide me with this. i know this topic will catch his eye for sure
there are mel's i could buy at local nurseries but find them bland with dead straight trunks and all they seem to have is claret tops.

so any advice on species types and what to look for in my area would be greatly appreciated
my local area is widebay queensland. which is 4 hours north of brisbane. it is called the fraser coast. if this helps any

jamie

[Pup]

Jamie like all tree's what to look for is movement in the lower trunk to the first branch. Then the size of foliage. Bark texture, Then if you are looking for tree's no more than about 200mm to 600 mm.
Obviously all this in a small tree is hard to find some times you can be lucky, like I have.
Small thin trunks will allow you to put movement into them. Without reading my whole book on Melaleuca's I would say there would be something there as there are a lot that have colonised areas. If you could get names of some I could be more precise.
My experience just about any Melaleuca can be used for Bonsai, some more so than other's, some are loath to shoot back on old wood.

Pup

[MelaQuin]

Look for a tree that has taper, movement and interest in the lower trunk and obviously shoots back on old wood. Picking a target with small leaves is an advantage but leaf size will reduce. I would say the most important feature to confirm is shooting back on old wood. As for all the other aspects... when you are really looking you will separate the wheat from the chaff without a doubt. Oh yes, dig around the base to see what more might be underground...as in a more spreading nebari or awkward roots. You can bet your bippy that the tree that will take your heart with have major problems but that's what this art is about, sorting them out. Better to collect in damp areas where roots are more likely to be around the trunk and not metres away. But Murphy's Law says you will find the gem in the worst location. Good luck and happy hunting.

[Pup]

Wise words MelaQuin.

The other thing to watch for is ANTS one a friend found was an ants nest, two hour's of digging. He was covered in bites.
Also in damp area's Joe Blakes are another possiblity, they usually get out of the way with noise.
Although they do hide in the hollows.

Good hunting.

[Jamie]

alright. first off im not to concerned about the ants. they wont bother me to much, but these joe blakes?????????
any way, around my area there isnt to many swampy locations although there is a fair few dams and small creeks. so that will probly be the first place i will look

as for them shooting back on old wood, my best bet being this time of year would be to see if they have new shoots down lower? i presume so anyways.

oh wait , i think i just got joe blakes.....snakes right

i think my best bet might be to take the camera out with me and go for a walk to have a look around and sight up some stuff first. post and see what you guys think

thanks pup and mel

regards jamie

[Pup]

Do not be that slow if you see one

[Jamie]

yea was a bit embarassing when it clicked. but yea. i wont be to worried there either. the amount of them i have taken out from around my place isnt funny.
since its warmed up and come into spring i have taken the heads of about 5 eastern browns with the shovel. so i got a good eye for hitting em

anyway, im keen to go out hunting saturday morning


jamie

[MelaQuin]

Re Ants: I use a product called FIX ANT by Garden King. Major constituent is CHLORPYRIFOS. I sprinkle this on the soil surface where there are ants and water in. It works quickly and well and has never harmed any bonsai. You could get this or similar and if there are ants, sprinkle and water and come back in a few hours and lift the tree. At the very least it saves your car being full of aggro ants.

I get ANT FIX from Bunnings and it is about $8 for 375 grs. Really GOOD stuff.

[Jamie]

ahhhh thats one thing about where i am living i have 5 acres in a rural area and out the back of my place is paddock... then bush. with creeks and dams and such. i know its no ones land as i have checked into this already, and it is all within walking distance. so i will just have to have a backpack with some water. heshian bags and a shovel i reckon

any other tips on tools ????


thanks.

jamie

[MelaQuin]

A wheelbarrow!!

[Jamie]

A wheelbarrow!!

actually i was just thinking, i have a ride on lawn mower that i am making a yard trailer for... that might even be better

[Jamie]

with a purchase of a chainsaw today i was walking around my front yard looking at ratty trees i want to get rid of and have come across a couple of mel. not sure of the sub but will get a pic tomorrow morning.

my question is- if i cut it down, like right down to a small stump of no more than 300-400mm what would be the chance of backbudding? i know it is a hard question to answer with out seeing what sort of mel it is but i was thinking if i get it down to size and have it budding down low while it is in the ground it will come back faster and i have a better chance of survival with the dig? yes?

same question goes for callistimon.

i have a fair few that are bout 3 metres tall but very little growth down low. but excellent trunks at the base.
trunk base size is any where from 50mm to 150mm the larger ones are twin trunks, the smaller are obviously single. but i see a lot of potential in these lower sections for shohin and i am very keen to try some natives

jamie

[Chris]

a jackhammer with a shovel attachment is a good tool. now digging is easy

[Pup]

Up in your neck of the woods its a good chance it is quinquenervia. These will shoot back like crazy we have one in our gardens. We have cut it back severly. It still shoots back quite vigorously.

Callistemons are I have found to be the same. So lookfor some nice shapes. Remember though with a weak back it is harder to move them. Also if you ever move can they go with you.

Let us know how you go.

Cheers Pup

[Jamie]

lol chris.


yeah thats why i want to cut them down low, like real low, for shohin size, and moving is an issue. i should stop buying trees and collecting if i get this job in WA, but the company will pay for all moving requirements, so they can pay for my trees too

will let ya know the go tomorrow

jamie