Digging up Junipers in July...Zone 7b....?

[Wee]

They have 8 that will be gone one way or the other this weekend...I'm supposed to get pics in the morning....If I do I'll post....They said they are thriving....My guess would be to dig up as much of the roots as possible and put them back in the ground....My question would be about the amount of sun I should expose them to and do I need to plant them on top of a granite slab in the ground....If so please direct me to a good "How to..." on that subject.

Brian

 

[october]

Probably better to keep them in containers after collecting. Collected trees need special after care. They need controlled watering, controlled sun and protection from the elements. Things like high winds, extreme heat and cold etc... It is tough to provide these things if they cannot be moved and are in the ground. However, if you really don't have a choice and have to put them back in the ground, maybe a place that gets morning sun and does not get high winds.

Rob

 

[MrFancyPlants]

I would root for back into the ground on a slab if you have the space, ans in a container. There is a fine line to walk between replacing the soil with a modern granular mix and leaving the roots alone to recover, and I believe a pond basket back in the ground is the safest approach, although less thirsty than a daily water. You could even start out in the shade and gradually move towards the full sun before fall

 

[Dav4]

How large are these junipers? Ideally, a collected tree destined to be bonsai tree would go into a container, but there are always exceptions, like not having enough appropriately sized containers or enough soil. I think you really need to take a critical look at these trees and cull the ones without promise. The keepers can either be potted up or planted out. Junipers grow best in full sun and I'd personally plant in an area where a good amount of sun is available. I've provided temporary shade post collection for moderately sized junipers with lawn chairs, beach towels, etc.,...basically what ever I had lying around. I'd probably skip planting over a slab. If these trees have any appreciable age, their roots will not bend and you won't want to be reducing the rootball at all...ultimately, you just want these trees to survive.

 

[Wee]

Here is the pic....Are they worth getting....?

Brian

 

[Dav4]

They could be...it all depends on the trunks hidden underneath all that green. The foliage looks a bit coarse for my tastes, though. Still, a good trunk is almost always worth collecting. If they're getting dug up anyway, I'd approach each one individually and decide whether it's worth keeping for future bonsai use, landscape material, or trash pick up. Fwiw, it's supposed to be relatively cool this weekend before it heads toward 90F next week...happy digging.

Dave

 

[Paradox]

I agree with look at the trunks and take those that have good size to them. That could save you some work by concentrating on the best ones. I would try to conserve as much of the roots as you can. If you have containers big enough then do that, if not then put in the ground in a place that gets morning sun as suggested. I would leave them in the ground or containers until 2015 so they have a chance to recover. You probably could so some light pruning next year if they come back strong.

 

[Poink88]

From what I've read, it is more critical for Juniper to save as much foliage as you can rather than the roots. Of course saving as much root is also good.

 

[Wee]

I have to dig them all up...I can't pick and choose...I think they were gonna just pull them up to get rid of them.

I got some scrap wood from work and will make 6 training pots tonight....I'll pick the best 6 and put the other two in the ground.

Brian

 

[Dav4]

From what I've read, it is more critical for Juniper to save as much foliage as you can rather than the roots. Of course saving as much root is also good.

Digging the largest root mass possible is always the priority when collecting junipers, just like it is with most other species. Having said that, a healthy canopy will help the tree recover sooner.

 

[Poink88]

Digging the largest root mass possible is always the priority when collecting junipers, just like it is with most other species. Having said that, a healthy canopy will help the tree recover sooner.

Care to share your opinion here?
http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?11558-Root-grafting-trunk-for-separation-to-a-new-tree

Thanks.

Just noticed you posted there already. Sorry.

 

[Wee]

Started on the training pots last night, got them almost done.....Fixing to head out to do the digging....This will be a first for me.

I'll post pics when I get back home later today.

Brian

 

[Wee]

I bit off way more than I could chew....These things were HUGE....I mean lie 4 or 5 feet in diameter and the bottom branches were too thick to raise up enough to be able to dig them up easy....I ended up getting 3, the smallest I built a new box for and the two large ones went in the yard. They ended up about bare rooted because they were so hard to get out of the ground....I could only get 3 of them in my full size conversion van....It was full. Here are a few pics.

Brian

 

[october]

That is a ton of work. I hope that they can produce some good future bonsai. It will be tricky seeing as how they have all those trunks. Your grow boxes came out very nice.

The trees are very healthy. Keep on the lookout for spider mites, scale and fungal disease. With all that full foliage and the stress from being dug up, they can get these things and it might not be noticeable right away.

Good luck

Rob

 

[Beng]

Definitely remove all of those juniper berries they will take energy from the foliage and root recovery.

 

[Wee]

There will be no way to protect the soil if I have to spray them....Hope the homebrew pesticide
doesn't hurt the root system too bad...?

Rob I think I got the recipe from a post I read of yours.

Brian

 

[Wee]

Will do Beng....Going to do that now.

Brian

 

[october]

There will be no way to protect the soil if I have to spray them....Hope the homebrew pesticide
doesn't hurt the root system too bad...?

Rob I think I got the recipe from a post I read of yours.

Brian

I have been using aluminum foil to protect the soil surface. Couple sheets on the soil and that is good. I would not spray until pests arise. These trees are very healthy at the moment. Bonide All Seasons Horticultural oil also works very well and has low toxicity. Recently, I have switched from the homemade stuff to the Bonide All seasons oil. I think the Bonide oil might work a little better. However, I cannot say for sure. Also, I think the homemade stuff might, somewhat, change the color of certain junipers, specifically procumbens junipers. Not a bad color, just a different color green. However, I cannot say this with certainty.

Rob

 

[Jason_mazzy]

The good news is foilage is more important than roots. keep all the foilage and collect as much roots as you can. Junipers do not need as great a root system as most trees.

 

[fore]

I have been using aluminum foil to protect the soil surface. Couple sheets on the soil and that is good. I would not spray until pests arise. These trees are very healthy at the moment. Bonide All Seasons Horticultural oil also works very well and has low toxicity. Recently, I have switched from the homemade stuff to the Bonide All seasons oil. I think the Bonide oil might work a little better. However, I cannot say for sure. Also, I think the homemade stuff might, somewhat, change the color of certain junipers, specifically procumbens junipers. Not a bad color, just a different color green. However, I cannot say this with certainty.

Rob

Congrats Wee, nice dig! I hope they have some great trunks for you!

Btw, I've sprayed my Itoigawa and Kishu with Copper, Daconil, and Bonide Infuse. None affected the color.

Rob, I've been purposely NOT covering the top soil as I figured there would be immature bugs, fungal spores and such on top of the soil. So spraying would kill whatever is on the soil....should I change my ways?