The toughness of a Tamarack

[M. Frary]

I collected this tamarack this spring. This tree is one I found last year at work. It looked to be growing on top of a mound. When I got up close this spring to start digging I figured out the mound was sphagnum moss and the tree was growing up through it. What that meant was that this low branch was actually more than a foot off of the ground and the rest of the trunk was in the moss.
I started pulling the moss away to get a look at the trunk to see if I should even bother trying to collect the tree. When I started to pull the moss away I found 2 little tufts of feeder roots growing out of the trunk and into the moss. I have bigger tufts of hair growing out of my nose.
I risked collecting it anyway. I cut it off above this branch and below the little tufts of feeder roots. I wrapped it in the sphagnum that was around the trunk and brought it home and planted it in the collander. This is basically a block of wood with a limb and a few hairs for feeder roots.
I wasn't expecting much out of it. Nothing really. And I would be WRONG! This is actually keeping up with all the other tamaracks I collected this year and doing better than some.
I'm just going to let it do what these things do. Grow roots. I believe next year it gets tipped over on its side to start a cascade tree. I think it will be a decent candidate.
What thinks you?

 

[Cypress187]

Are those needles (yeah i googled Tamarack)? I thought when u collect them u needed as much roots and green?

 

[M. Frary]

Tamarack trees are some tough trees.If you read the thread on what happens to a stump when I get it home,that is how I treat these trees too. Like an elm or hornbeam. This tree was probably close to 12 feet tall of not taller. This is what I brought out of the woods. I didn't need to wash these roots off though. I actually left some sphagnum around what little roots were there. I believe it is helping immensely. I also didn't think this tree would make it but am pleasantly surprised. I actually had 1 seedling die this year from collection. It had more roots than this.

 

[Cypress187]

Btw, how much chance is there for survivabiliy when i collect a decidious tree full of leaves at this time? A friend of mine offered a place in his new garden/home to place something in the ground, but everything is allready collected and in pots so it's technically the wrong time, or isn't it?

 

[M. Frary]

I would hold off. It can be done but the chances of survival go way down. Best to get them just before or as the buds start swelling in spring. An elm or red maple might be able to pull through. But if you can wait till next spring I would.

 

[crust]

This year most wilding larch I found were fully frozen in the bog yet were all needled out.

 

[M. Frary]

They just started to leaf out 3 weeks ago here. When I got this the moss around the trunk was frozen still. But that's fairly easy to get through. I'm amazed it's opening buds. It's a few days behind the rest of the Larches I collected this year but actually seems to be catching up. Hope it isn't some last ditch effort to survive.

 

[bonsaiBlake]

looks really good. Hope it pulls through.

 

[sikadelic]

A larch is on my short list of species that I will be looking to buy at some point this year when I can muster up some funds. I wish I could find an area to collect them! It looks like you will really have something interesting to work with!!

 

[M. Frary]

I have seen them in nurseries. The cool thing with these is they grow like rockets. Just keep putting water and fertilizer to them. They love it.

 

[BrianBay9]

Mike have you compared success rates for fall vs spring collecting? In the spring I can't seem to hit that narrow window between frozen and green branches. I tried a couple of test collections last fall and they seem to be doing fine this spring. Seems easier to find a day in the autumn after they turn yellow but before the ground freezes.

Brian

 

[M. Frary]

I don't collect in fall. I'm outside working in the spring. I have a shovel with me at all times. As soon as I can get it in the ground is when I start digging. It was quite a busy time for me this spring. My tree count went up from 60 to 189 in 3 weeks. Still didn't get all of the trees I wanted but they will be there next spring.
I may do up a couple of American elms this fall though. Just to see how they take it. It would sure be nice to know I could collect in the fall and have trees survive.

 

[Cypress187]

I would hold off. It can be done but the chances of survival go way down. Best to get them just before or as the buds start swelling in spring. An elm or red maple might be able to pull through. But if you can wait till next spring I would.

I have some collected in pond baskets, maybe i can bury them in his garden, so i have more space on my balcony to grow vegies.

 

[Cypress187]

I don't collect in fall. I'm outside working in the spring. I have a shovel with me at all times. As soon as I can get it in the ground is when I start digging. It was quite a busy time for me this spring. My tree count went up from 60 to 189 in 3 weeks. Still didn't get all of the trees I wanted but they will be there next spring.
I may do up a couple of American elms this fall though. Just to see how they take it. It would sure be nice to know I could collect in the fall and have trees survive.

You sell them?, or do you have too much time

 

[M. Frary]

You sell them?, or do you have too much time

I'm thinking of selling some. Kind of like a pre bonsai thing with stock that is fit for the North. There are a lot of native trees here that make for wonderful bonsai.
Elms and Tamaracks and Jack pine and Scotch pine and Spruce and Hawthorns and Hornbeams and maybe another I'm trying out this year. Autumn Olive. That's what we call it. No idea of its real or Latin name but it has small leaves,berries and flowers. So far it seems to be as easy to grow and collect as an elm or larch.
I've got to get a website going and need to arrange a pick up for UPS.
Next year.

 

[BrianBay9]

I don't collect in fall. I'm outside working in the spring. I have a shovel with me at all times. As soon as I can get it in the ground is when I start digging. It was quite a busy time for me this spring. My tree count went up from 60 to 189 in 3 weeks. Still didn't get all of the trees I wanted but they will be there next spring.
I may do up a couple of American elms this fall though. Just to see how they take it. It would sure be nice to know I could collect in the fall and have trees survive.

Right now I have tried fall collecting on two tamarack - one pretty small and the other about 5 inches in diameter. Both taken just after they turned yellow last fall. Both look really good right now - needles out and new growth starting. I guess that's 100% success so far, but a small sample size.

 

[M. Frary]

I guess I may give it a try this year.

 

[sorce]

I guess I may give it a try this year.

You should try the bury the whole thing trick in the fall!
That was awesome, and I reckon it will work!

Look what I found! HA!


Sorce

 

[Vance Wood]

I'm thinking of selling some. Kind of like a pre bonsai thing with stock that is fit for the North. There are a lot of native trees here that make for wonderful bonsai.
Elms and Tamaracks and Jack pine and Scotch pine and Spruce and Hawthorns and Hornbeams and maybe another I'm trying out this year. Autumn Olive. That's what we call it. No idea of its real or Latin name but it has small leaves,berries and flowers. So far it seems to be as easy to grow and collect as an elm or larch.
I've got to get a website going and need to arrange a pick up for UPS.
Next year.

Mike; If you have an example of this tree bring it down with you I would like to try and identify it. It very well should be an addition to the MABA list for the MABA awards.

 

[M. Frary]

Sorce[/QUOTE]

Nice tamarack yak!
The burying it in the ground thing? I just don't know. It just seems weird.
I've contemplated digging one up this weekend to see what will happen. I talked to a guy that says it can be done.