AusBonsai

Thanks alpine. Your post was probably far more constructive then mine. You hit the nail right on the head again.

A less confused squizz

squizzy wrote:After reading this it seems you can only dig in spring, summer, autumn and winter. The rest of the year you can forget about it. Oh and don't water them but they love water so give them a good drink ?????

A confused squizz

As Alpine said, it depends even on what state you live in. I am in South Australia, and it seems like late winter/early spring is best for Adelaide. The only reason I say that is because the SA Bonsai Society hold their digs in Between late Aug/mid Sept each year.

I didn't say pines dont love water either, I was saying they need to be misted frequently (to minimise shock) and to let the soil dry out a little so it starts sending out roots looking for water. After 8-10 wks, then I would be watering it. The most important thing for recovery is to make sure it is out of the wind, and out of the sun for at least 2 months, & I was told by a senior member of my club not to work on them for 12 months to allow it to gain vigor.

I think collecting trees is like potting mixes, everyone has their own way, and they think it is better than the others. Maybe we could have a thread comparing digging techniques around the country for different species?

Hi Luke.

Hey luke.

Don't take this the wrong way but the info as a whole here was quite contradicting if read by a learner ( which I am). The point alpine has made is that people need to do these things based on there own experience as it can differ greatly. I was mearly making a laugh of all that info.

I would encourage you not to take what the senior bonsai people in your club say as gospil and maybe conduct some of your own experiments. I know you listen to tool as I do and the one thing they always repeat is " think for yourself question authority". I think it's a great way to live myself.

You have given your opinion on how to dig pines. Is it from experience or from what you have heard or read?

That's just my opinion. Please don't take it the wrong way.

Cheers

Squizz

Be taking no chances with the realy good one lol planning to do it in stages trunk is about 15cm across with nice bark. Ive cut down the tree to about 90cm prune all lower branches back ( which where trained many yrs ago) an used shovel to cut roots about 40cm away from the trunk all around the the tree. Gave it some water so hopefully after that it will back bud an a better root system will develop . The next step ill take is to dig under the tree carefully from one side an try to cut the main tap root if i can the fill with good potting mix ill do this early spring but for now ill feed it up an give it seasol as well. Forgot my camera when i went to my parents place but they took picture for me ill post a picture of this pine when i can .

squizzy wrote:I know you listen to tool as I do and the one thing they always repeat is " think for yourself question authority". I think it's a great way to live myself.


Squizz

Over thinking, over analyzing, separates my body from my mind.

Ha ha. Yes vs. Let's not hijack this thread though. We may get in trouble.

Back on track, yesterday temp was in the low 30's and todays is in the low 20's. Would now be the time to collect radiata???

squizzy wrote:After reading this it seems you can only dig in spring, summer, autumn and winter. The rest of the year you can forget about it. Oh and don't water them but they love water so give them a good drink ?????

A confused squizz

Post of the year

Just like Soil, everyone has their own opinions and tecniques and timings. I think maybe largely beacuse of our mild climates in OZ, we cn get away with most things that woud be impossible in colder climes.

Deciduous trees have their definite collection / work times, but evergreens can tolerate collection at any time just about.

Ken

Yeah i think you are right kcpoole if the right care is taken most every greens can be collected anytime in Oz come down to condition of tree an the root ball it has as well. Ive seen olives on here that have a mass of feeder roots just below the surface where the ones ive collected have next to none. Soil type would also be another factor as well sandy soil is hard to not disturb the roots as heavy soil its easier to get a good root ball. Just have to go by trial an error in your local area i think until you find a method that works

squizzy wrote:Hi Luke.
You have given your opinion on how to dig pines. Is it from experience or from what you have heard or read?

That's just my opinion. Please don't take it the wrong way.
Cheers

Squizz

Yes that is from personal experience, all documented on a different thread here. viewtopic.php?f=131&t=9543&hilit=+crawford

As to dont take what others say as gospel, I totally agree. However I have been told if you see their trees, and they are excellent specimens, then you should ask what they are doing as they are doing something right. One of the members at my club is practically a guru when it comes to pines, and he has some of the best JBP and JWP I have seen from Australia. I am sure there is better hidden out there, but his work is amazing none the less.

Nice one luke,

Happy to know your an independent thinker.

Now to read your thread

Cheers

Squizz

Hi got some pictures of the pine i collected just have to wait an see how it goes going back to check on the others in about 2 weeks may dig under the good one to cut the tap root an leave it till spring to collect as they seem to not be growing right now as the one i cut down from 12feet high hasnt bleed much sap at all.

Got some radiatas here, only foot or so high, but you welcome to a few if you want, have definitely survived lifting by a year or so. Ive been picking them up from where they were sprouting in mulch, so easy to lift with one finger and came with roots intact.

Just a quick question been looking on the net an found some very nice radiata pine pictures an abit of what i have read they say Radiata pines have 3 needles is this right as i have no idea the one ive got only has two

Hi Oliverazy,

This question will no doubt conjure up all sorts of answers. I tend to like the theory of who the hell cares as long as it pleases you and you get the result you are after. There are more pine varieties in the world then there are pine experts I think.

I have heard but cannot confirm that radiata have a distintive strong smell when you crush the leaves but that may be the case for more than the one variety.

good luck with the Id you are going to need it.

Squizz