AusBonsai

I collected several trees from a house today that is being demolished. In the front yard is some kind of blue juniper. I figured it would have a single straight trunk with no character but it does have some shape to it.
I'm wondering is this worth collecting. Will it back bud. If I can get the foliage back in close I think the trunk has enough shape to be worth it ( not so much movement like alpine collected but more like character shape.
I've never collected a juniper this big.
1 does it stand a chance of surviving being dug now
2 how far back should I cut it.
3 Will it back bud.
The ground is really hard clay so its hard digging. Can't be bothered if its not likely to survive or not worth it.

Josh.

Oooops forgot the photos.

What have you got to lose? That's an awesome trunk....
Perhaps what need to ask is "What are they going to do with it?" if they kill it, you got nothing to worry about... In fact I recon it'll have a better chance of surviving, and surviving well as a Bonsai.

I've been reading a lot about how people collect full grown trees that are being demolished and they just turn them in to Bonsais! Flipping awesome! But then again, I'm a newbie full of enthusiasm!

Cheers
EZ

CoGRedeMptioN wrote:What have you got to lose? That's an awesome trunk....
Perhaps what need to ask is "What are they going to do with it?" if they kill it, you got nothing to worry about... In fact I recon it'll have a better chance of surviving, and surviving well as a Bonsai.

I've been reading a lot about how people collect full grown trees that are being demolished and they just turn them in to Bonsais! Flipping awesome! But then again, I'm a newbie full of enthusiasm!

Cheers
EZ

I used to think that way too but could be 2-3 hours of digging and my back says not worth it unless it has a chance of surviving and can become something. I used to dig everything cause I could. Now I dig cause its worth it. If the ground wasn't like concrete it might be an easier decision. It will be pulled by them as they are rebuilding and the builder wants everything gone. They won't dig it out the nice way though .

Josh

Would they use a back-hoe to get it out? You have to prune the roots anyway...

Hi Josh , mate haven't you dug this out yet , 1 hour should see this out and in the car . Now should be O.K to dig junipers especially if its going to be destroyed . The root mass on these is usually fairly shallow and close to the base . I would water /saturate the ground then dig it out .It looks to me like a Juniperus Chinensis Pfitzeriana and definitely worth the effort to remove .

Now jump on the shovel and "Hook in Roy" take some pics and make a topic out of your hard earn labour .

Cheers Alpine

Well worth digging IMHO but I am not the one on the shovel .

The smaller branches will backbud probably, but if not grafting will be fine

Do yo have a reciprocating saw? If so then. Just cut around the edge of the rootball with it clay and all
Then undercut as far as can with it

Use the saw to remove as much branches and foliage as you need (keep a god amount if you can )tie rope off a longer section of trunk to th car then put some weight on it
Hopefully it might lift a edge so you can get under it with th saw or long handled shovel or pitchbar

In the car and back home then into a very large box or the ground for a year or 2 to recover

In this day of power tools, no reason to struggle in clay (rocks make life hard tho)

Other alternative is to ask the machine operator to remove it gently. Amazing how good operator is especially when offered a case of beers

Ken

alpineart wrote:Hi Josh , mate haven't you dug this out yet , 1 hour should see this out and in the car . Now should be O.K to dig junipers especially if its going to be destroyed . The root mass on these is usually fairly shallow and close to the base . I would water /saturate the ground then dig it out .It looks to me like a Juniperus Chinensis Pfitzeriana and definitely worth the effort to remove .

Now jump on the shovel and "Hook in Roy" take some pics and make a topic out of your hard earn labour .

Cheers Alpine

Hi Alpine. The first three I thought would be easy as they were in raised beds. Turns out the raised beds were all the rubble from the site so all clay and rocks. I'll be going back to have another look though. Might be able to get an machine to do the work if I time it right.

kcpoole wrote:Well worth digging IMHO but I am not the one on the shovel .

The smaller branches will backbud probably, but if not grafting will be fine

Do yo have a reciprocating saw? If so then. Just cut around the edge of the rootball with it clay and all
Then undercut as far as can with it

Use the saw to remove as much branches and foliage as you need (keep a god amount if you can )tie rope off a longer section of trunk to th car then put some weight on it
Hopefully it might lift a edge so you can get under it with th saw or long handled shovel or pitchbar

In the car and back home then into a very large box or the ground for a year or 2 to recover

In this day of power tools, no reason to struggle in clay (rocks make life hard tho)

Other alternative is to ask the machine operator to remove it gently. Amazing how good operator is especially when offered a case of beers

Ken

Thanks Ken. Unfortunately no power on site. I was thinking when digging yesterday I need to make a hand held trenching machine for these sorts of jobs I will take the chain saw this time though. I guess I'm back to digging again. I'll let you how I go.
Thanks
Josh.

Do it. You have all the foliage there that was not there for the one I dug up previously; and which died. If the foliage is gone, don't bother. Lucky timing.

bonsai was meant to keep me away from the computer

Aftercare is the key here Josh and i would be soaking it in a nutrient solution for a few hours before repotting. You have to go for it otherwise you will always be wondering.

Not to mention the price is right-imagine how good it'll look after a
Few cold beers when it's in a pot

bodhidharma wrote:Aftercare is the key here Josh and i would be soaking it in a nutrient solution for a few hours before repotting. You have to go for it otherwise you will always be wondering.

Thanks Bodhi. I have a bath set up in the yard, I soak all collected trees in seasol for min 24hrs before potting. I then water with seasol and spray the foliage and trunk daily with seasol. Seems to work pretty well. I want be wondering as I have organised to go and dig it. My back is aching already

Isitangus wrote:Not to mention the price is right-imagine how good it'll look after a
Few cold beers when it's in a pot

Funny you mention the price. After my discussion with them yesterday the did some research and found bonsai are worth money. They asked how much it was worth to me to dig. After some discussion we agreed if I help them move a couple of trees they want to keep I can have it. Funny how things change. Anyway I had offered to help move the trees they wanted yesterday so I guess I still have a good deal.

I will photo the dig a start a new thread on its progression once I have it out and recover enough to post again

Josh.

Josh wrote: I will photo the dig a start a new thread on its progression once I have it out and recover enough to post again

Josh.

Haha love it! I can't wait to see it. Pls link the new thread so it's easily followed...


Cheers
EZ
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