amatbrewer
Shohin
Obviously this can't be called "Yamadory", so I figure maybe it could be called "Toshidori" (Toshi~Urban, Torry~Take)? 
[Give me a break it has been a really weird week.]
Outside my office is this Barberry that has probably been there for more than 15 years (maybe as long as 25). Everyone in the office hates it because of the thorns and I got permission from the landowner to rip it out and replace it if I want. But now I am thinking about the possibility of collecting it. It may not be clear in the photos but the trunk is at least 3-4" (8-10cm) across. I figure if it could live this long in this crappy clay with no care or watering it is probably one tough bastard, and able to withstand some serious abuse. I believe the irrigation pipe in the pix has not been hooked to anything in many years, and it is under an awning so does not even get direct rain/snow. How it has survived is beyond me.
I need to have it out and replaced with something else before next summer, so I am trying to decide on if I can collect it with a reasonable chance of survival, and if so how to go about it. (The suggestion from my co-workers is to hook it to my truck and rip the damn thing out.)
I was thinking of trenching around it now (though I suspect the roots go down due to being surrounded by concrete) and giving it some regular watering and maybe a few applications of fertilizer before winter sets in. And then collecting it as soon as the soil thaws in the spring. I would like to reduce it down to something more manageable before collecting, but worry about doing too much too soon.
Any ideas as to how much of the rootball I can remove when I collect it? If the roots go directly down as I suspect I may have to remove a lot.
And if I could get away with reducing the branches and foliage some before collecting?
Obviously long sleeves and heavy gloves will be a must while working with this. I have already donated enough blood to it already.
Any suggestions as to process and timing would be greatly appreciated.
[Give me a break it has been a really weird week.]Outside my office is this Barberry that has probably been there for more than 15 years (maybe as long as 25). Everyone in the office hates it because of the thorns and I got permission from the landowner to rip it out and replace it if I want. But now I am thinking about the possibility of collecting it. It may not be clear in the photos but the trunk is at least 3-4" (8-10cm) across. I figure if it could live this long in this crappy clay with no care or watering it is probably one tough bastard, and able to withstand some serious abuse. I believe the irrigation pipe in the pix has not been hooked to anything in many years, and it is under an awning so does not even get direct rain/snow. How it has survived is beyond me.
I need to have it out and replaced with something else before next summer, so I am trying to decide on if I can collect it with a reasonable chance of survival, and if so how to go about it. (The suggestion from my co-workers is to hook it to my truck and rip the damn thing out.)
I was thinking of trenching around it now (though I suspect the roots go down due to being surrounded by concrete) and giving it some regular watering and maybe a few applications of fertilizer before winter sets in. And then collecting it as soon as the soil thaws in the spring. I would like to reduce it down to something more manageable before collecting, but worry about doing too much too soon.
Any ideas as to how much of the rootball I can remove when I collect it? If the roots go directly down as I suspect I may have to remove a lot.
And if I could get away with reducing the branches and foliage some before collecting?
Obviously long sleeves and heavy gloves will be a must while working with this. I have already donated enough blood to it already.
Any suggestions as to process and timing would be greatly appreciated.
