AusBonsai

Hey Ken,
Banksia spinulosa grows well in a pot and can be dug quite easily like the other banksias but the little work I have done with banksias indicates they take rootpruning better during summer. Hopefully yours will just sulk all winter then take off in spring like the ones I rootpruned last March, rather than dying off completely. Might also be different up there in sunny Sydney.

I wanted to join but I have a job and the only 2 days I work are the days the classes run. I've wanted to join for a while but I can't, my parents are pretty much forcing me to work (it's not like I need the money).

coocarch wrote:Well I'm 16, but I would prefer to learn from someone, instead of from the internet. But if there's a site where I can go and dig trees, I would like to go, I doubt he'd take all the trees, I could just take whatever's left.

Hi Coocarch
See the PM sent now as it depends on where you are really.
The hardest thing with collecting is finding worthwhile trees first, and then the aftercare. I am slowly learning but have had some success and quite a few failures.
Keep your eye out for houses / gardens being renovated, or local parks being ripped out or redeveloped.

In my time with the School we have had only 2 digs and I have not made either of them , But saw the pics of the collecting and have been to only 1 organised dig in Goulbourn that was advertised here. They are few an far between actually.
Ken

coocarch wrote:I wanted to join but I have a job and the only 2 days I work are the days the classes run. I've wanted to join for a while but I can't, my parents are pretty much forcing me to work (it's not like I need the money).

Possibly just encouraging yu to learn a good work ethic . ( mnay of the youth today have no idea what working is, but that ios another Story). Your currentl situation will not last forever and as you are 16 you have Many more years to collect magic trees

Ken

Yeah, the upside of being young is being able to start bonsai from seed and watch them change as they grow, and as you grow. I haven't been into bonsai very long, but MAN have I been into it. I still have to build benches and such for them to sit, just so they don't litter my backyard. Thanks for letting me come with you, now if I do collect anything the trees will have a story.

It's not like I need the money

Mate you are in to bonsai and as much as you kind find yamadori, free wire, second hand pots and anything else you can get your hands on you are going to need money. There is only so far in this world you can go without coin. I have had a job since I was 14 and I had been into bonsai back then so I was spending that hard earned money on soil and
Pots at bonsai meetings. I recall you were heading to school of. Bonsai student sale a few weeks ago, where was the money going to come for that if you didn't have a job.

As others have said on here you can do your own bit of yamadoring in your local area. Best to learn from mistakes you make because you remember those much better than the ones you hear from others. You are chomping at the bit at the moment which I can understand but it will all come with time. Patience is what is needed and it's a hard part to learn. I still suffer badly from impatience but I am getting better as you will.

Now head out next week on a bike or something and find a site that is appropriate and start looking for some interesting trunks.

Cheers

Squizz

Thanks for the advice Mr. Squizzy, I'll make sure to keep that in mind in the future. I'm thinking of asking my neighbours if I can dig a privet from behind their bins, I don't think they want it there and I think it's time I get a privet.

Thanks for the advice Mr. Squizzy, I'll make sure to keep that in mind in the future. I'm thinking of asking my neighbours if I can dig a privet from behind their bins, I don't think they want it there and I think it's time I get a privet.

I just realised my last post sent twice, sorry about that guys. Also this post is sort of a self-bump,but a shameless one at that.

An update on this collection effort
The Cotoneaster, and Banksia did not survive, but all others are doing real well. I have repotted them all and was careful not to take too much off the Kunzea and Melaleuca.

Ken

They are looking good Ken. Cotoneasters I hear dont like much root disturbance.

Neli wrote:They are looking good Ken. Cotoneasters I hear dont like much root disturbance.

Now you tell me

yeah it never even looked like recovering

Ken

Some very nice trees there Ken. Do you sell off your trees or do you just have a really big back yard? Must great to have a dig site. Still looking for mine although have been lucky to get a few good finds along the way. I love digging a tree and watching it bounce back. Something special in that I think as apposed to just vying trees.

Josh.

Josh wrote:Some very nice trees there Ken. Do you sell off your trees or do you just have a really big back yard? Must great to have a dig site. Still looking for mine although have been lucky to get a few good finds along the way. I love digging a tree and watching it bounce back. Something special in that I think as apposed to just vying trees.

Josh.

I have a reasonable suburban yard and all around the fences i have posts or benches fro my trees. still not enough space tho
I have sold a few trees that are superfluous to requirements and need to have another cull soon. Probably for the next A.B sale day

I used to have a great dig site, but now is just housing lots it has all been dug up and subdivided now.

Ken