In need of some advice from this group. I have left a few volunteers that have sprung up in my landscaping to grow throughout this season for collection early next spring. However, my wife and I may have had a real estate opportunity present itself that could see us out of our current home by January. Is it possible to collect and pot my volunteers this late in the season and have them make it? There is a Peach, an ERC, an American Elm, and a few Sweetgums that I have been allowing to develop. Any tips, tricks, or advice on collection at this time of year would be welcomed should we wind up pulling the trigger on moving.
Fall Collection Advice
- Thread starter ERClover
- Start date
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
I would wait until they are dormant if you can.
You should be able to collect them in December before you move if needs be.
I would try to collect as much of the root ball as you can
You should be able to collect them in December before you move if needs be.
I would try to collect as much of the root ball as you can
19Mateo83
Masterpiece
Dig wide and take as much root ball as possible. You should be ok.
Tieball
Masterpiece
Digging them up after leaf loss and in dormancy should be fine. Take as much root as you can. Fill the holes up after digging. What’s your plan, thoughts, for the trees right after you dig them up?
I appreciate the replies from everyone. Even had it been spring collection recovery would have been emphasized for them all over the next season. The Peach won’t get touched as I will not be using it for Bonsai, I will keep it for a yard tree and see if I can overcome many of the known issues with them grown fr seed (genuinely no idea how it got where it is, was a nice surprise when ID’d it). Plan for the other deciduous would probably to cut them back and seal with cut paste upon collection as the Elm in particular is 3 long shoots having come up among some Azaleas. The ERC will really just be left as is.
Among all that my concern would be trimming the deciduous while transplanting out of season. I don’t necessarily have to do it if it’s too much of a risk but the Elm in particular would look rather silly for awhile.
Forgot to picture this sweetgum. It’s been here awhile and backed back several times, think it could be pretty cool but will definitely be the toughest to get out.
Attachments
Eckhoffw
Masterpiece
The elm won’t skip a beat if you transplant it now.
Gabler
Masterpiece
None of it is valuable material. It's all easy to replace for free of for cheap. You might as well dig them up and see how they do. If they die, it's no great loss. The elm and eastern red cedar should be fine. Sweetgum can be finicky. They're usually tough, but when they go downhill, they go downhill fast. Be sure not to cut anything above the soil line on the sweetgum until next summer. Peach trees, as you mentioned, are too susceptible to disease to survive for long without pesticides, but that might or might not have an impact on its ability to handle fall root pruning.
Tieball
Masterpiece
I don’t prune off branches in dormant digging. I have always understood that a trees natural protection against the elements, especially during dormancy, exists in the branches all the way out to the end tips. If pruning, cutting back, I do that work when spring starts back up and growth can develop. I would dig and leave the top growth alone.
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