AusBonsai

have an opportunity to dig a couple so Is it ok to dig natives now in s.a.-----unsure of the species ---- thanks

Digging a lot of species of trees can be ok at this time of year so long as you protect them from harsh conditions such as frost, wind and excessive water like rain.
Its always really vital to know what species of tree you are attempting to dig. Even though native trees are endemic to Australia they cannot be all regarded under the same heading of 'natives' in terms of care and procedure. They are no different to exotics in regards to the fact that different species have different tolerances, growth patterns and horticultural requirements. So its important to know what the species is before digging to know how to treat the tree exactly.

In general though, make sure you collect a large amount of root, mainly fibrous and depending upon the species of tree remove a percentage of the foliage (eg lepto 20% , melaleuca 80 - 100% etc )

Hope that helps

Hugh

I have tried many times to dig banksia but they always die.

thanks Hugh My wife tells me it's some type of mel----small white flowers

There are a few posts on here, on digging Melaleucas. Some species are easier than others, some will tolerate foliage cutting others will not, some soil is beneficial.
I have dug them in the middle of winter and in the middle of summer both times with success.
As Guy pointed out after care is the key to success.

Good Luck cheers Pup

If you can post some pics and we may be able to help with id

Hello Guy,

Just remember, that your local council nursery can be an ocean of opportunity. Generally council nurseries have a very wide range of native material to choose from. Yes, it can be a lot of fun digging from the wild (provided you have permission)...cough cough. But regardless, it can also be frustrating collecting beautiful material that perishes after collection. Obviously an intact root ball is the main key, and trying to retain feeder roots. A lot of native material send down or sideways - depending on the medium it is growing on - a large tap root which in some cases may not have any feeder roots close to the trunk, in which case you are probably going to have very little success on those particular scenarios. But I think when most people start out, they always try to acquire wild stock, and it can be fun and gets you out and about. Enjoy.

Don't fertilize after you have returned with the stock, and reduce the foliage to apportion the right ratio to the remaining roots that you managed to keep. Often most advice, depending on the material will be to cut back all the foliage, but again it is different advice depending on the species and the view.