Roadside pine

Isitangus · Post by **Isitangus** » August 22nd, 2012, 2:47 pm

Just thought I'd post a few pics of my "roadside pine".
Was collected yesterday somewhere on the outskirts of Bathurst, had pulled over to get something out of the boot and this was literally at my feet when I opened the door.
No tools on board so it came out with a tight grip and a hefty pull-still had decent root ball and roots.
Into the grow box to see what evolves, my first pine!!!

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Approx dimensions
25cm from soil to chop (chop not done by me-must've been nature!)
51cm to top of tree
4cm base diameter

Brian · Post by **Brian** » August 22nd, 2012, 4:48 pm

Thats exactly how I have collected radiata pines over the years. A few die, but then again they are free to take.

Isitangus · Post by **Isitangus** » August 22nd, 2012, 5:46 pm

My thoughts exactly Brian, a free tree is a great tree!

alpineart · Post by **alpineart** » August 22nd, 2012, 10:55 pm

Hi Insitangus , chop top pines are usually the result of councils or eradication programs that don't often work as they cut the top too high and leave a shoot which sprouts . As i have collected hundreds of pines the chop tops usually have a very good shallow feeder root mass which makes for easy collection . If those euca' chips is still green i would move it away from the trunk just a bit or it may result in burning the lower trunk . Decomposition of fresh mulches and chips produces a lot of heat and can easily cook the bark at ground level , even the foliage above . Nice score by the way .

Cheers Alpineart

Isitangus · Post by **Isitangus** » August 23rd, 2012, 6:36 am

Thanks for the advice re mulch. Next time I'll bring my hand shovel ready for some more!

vgarth · Post by **vgarth** » August 23rd, 2012, 9:41 am

When you wrote that you hadn't chopped the top I wondered if some other bonsai collector had, and was coming back to dig it . . . still, you got in first!

Is there anything to be gained by chopping then waiting? Similar to driving a spade in around the roots then leaving it to develop some closer feeder roots before digging, perhaps? But the Council suggestion is no doubt right.
Cheers, Val Garth

Isitangus · Post by **Isitangus** » August 23rd, 2012, 10:13 am

Hi val I thought the same thing initially but it was in a fairly remote spot with dozens of other pines around it. Also the chop is flat across the top-so didn't think it would be a bonsaist???

shibui · Post by **shibui** » August 23rd, 2012, 9:28 pm

I cut lots of feral trees off flat, sometimes several times over a few years then check to see which ones have grown back to give better trunks before collecting. Cuts can be refined later. Not enough room at home to be collecting rubbish. Needs to be at least good or better to be worth the trouble of digging and to justify the space on the bench.

ozzy · Post by **ozzy** » August 24th, 2012, 11:26 am

shibui wrote:I cut lots of feral trees off flat, sometimes several times over a few years then check to see which ones have grown back to give better trunks before collecting.

I've done that too but I can never remember where the bloody things are, sometimes I'd swear someone else has pinched them

Isitangus · Post by **Isitangus** » August 24th, 2012, 12:15 pm

Ozzy your so funny!!! This one definately wasn't one of yours!!!!
(or was it )

AusBonsai

Roadside pine

Roadside pine

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Roadside pine

Re: Roadside pine

Roadside pine

Re: Roadside pine

Roadside pine

Re: Roadside pine

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Roadside pine