AusBonsai

G'day.

I was at a mates place earlier and spotted a chinese juniper growing in his front yard. Its at least 4m short 1m wide bushy foilage and the trunk is about 6" thick. I am in no rush and am happy to wait for the right time to dig it out, it's not going anywhere. Should I chop it in half now and dig it out in spring ? Or is it best to just chop it when I dig it out ? Alrite what are my chances of digging it out tomorrow ? I know the answer to this im 99% but i'll just throw it out there anyway. Would it survive in a greenhouse with abit of seasol ? What would you do ? Wait or dig it ?

Thanks in advance

Mack_187

Hey Mack
sounds like a big project,If you are in no rush to get the tree and want to improve your chances of survival leave it there for now but dig a trench around the tree about the same width as the drip line of the branches and cut the roots with a sharp spade then back fill with sharp shand to encourage fine new roots and dig up in spring or better still the spring after that .patience is a vurtue so they tell me. just my just my thoughts

G'day

I will dig that trench around it and fill it with sand. Cheers for the reply. Would it hurt chopping it down abit or just wait until I dig it up ?

Anything else I could do to make the job easier ?

I'll post some pics soon.

Thanks Mack_187

A bit late to be cutting back now, Any new growth will not have time to harden off before winter.

Leave till early spring / late winter

Ken

Has anyone tried (if you have the patience) digging under the bush and removing the tap or any major roots that head downward while leaving any surface roots then refilling with sand and leaving for a time--and then do the trenching around the tree-- or to do both at the same time -----would it be worthwhile?

Guy wrote:Has anyone tried (if you have the patience) digging under the bush and removing the tap or any major roots that head downward while leaving any surface roots then refilling with sand and leaving for a time--and then do the trenching around the tree-- or to do both at the same time -----would it be worthwhile?

thought about this ,it is almost the same as digging the tree out but the more i think maybe it would be less shock on the tree .I have just the Project we have a mexican pine that needs to go ,got too big for the garden just couldnt bring myself to run the chainsaw through the base stopped short about a meter high.