Hawthorn Collecting

[Dermot]

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to collect an old hawthorn from a ditch in the south east of Ireland. This is my first experience at collecting so please be gentle! I'll keep this thread updated as to the progress of the tree in future.

Prior to collection, i have watched lot's videos from some of the yamadori hawthorn guru's from this part of the world, namely messers Tickle and Harrington.

The tree itself is very tall and straight. No taper to speak of. I cut the top off to make it manageable. If it survives I hope to air layer the top section in a few years.

I gave the large knotted root's a good clean to get as much field soil off as possible. I gave it a light wash to help the process. From my reading, the tree is at it's strongest after collecting so it's a good opportunity to get things in order down there.

The tree is potted in a mix of horticultural grit, perlite, molar clay, pumice and a little compost. I've also got sphagnum moss around the chopped roots.

Unfortunately I don't have any cold Frame to place the tree during recovery. It's in a sheltered corner of the garden and hopefully the weather is kind over the next few weeks. There was also a large root which sprouted up over ground so I took this and potted up also. In spring I might give this smaller tree the black bag treatment. Again it doesn't have much going for it but it's a good opportunity to learn.

 

[Dermot]

A few more......

Apologies that they are not in order!

 

[PonderingSage:]

Sounds like you have done a good job so far and have done your research.
Collecting a bit early may be a problem, however hawthorns are pretty resilient.
I just dug one this weekend. I have it in a cold frame but it will still see freezing temps. for you and l both!
Good luck.

 

[Dermot]

Sounds like you have done a good job so far and have done your research.
Collecting a bit early may be a problem, however hawthorns are pretty resilient.
I just dug one this weekend. I have it in a cold frame but it will still see freezing temps. for you and l both!
Good luck.

Yes I did think a bit early but the season has been so mild this year I can see some of the buds starting to swell already. I could also see some new root growth tips in the root's. Best of luck with yours also

 

[Shibui]

European hawthorn have achieved weed status down here. I have no problem transplanting them, even with massive root reduction. I've collected hawthorn before and during winter and don't bother with bags or cold frame. Early collected trees just wait until spring to start growing.
I've also had no problem chopping taller trunks when collecting. They just sprout new shoots from the stump (and often from roots) when the weather warms up.

Root cuttings will grow easily, even thicker roots.

 

[Dermot]

European hawthorn have achieved weed status down here. I have no problem transplanting them, even with massive root reduction. I've collected hawthorn before and during winter and don't bother with bags or cold frame. Early collected trees just wait until spring to start growing.
I've also had no problem chopping taller trunks when collecting. They just sprout new shoots from the stump (and often from roots) when the weather warms up.

Root cuttings will grow easily, even thicker roots.

Good to know. Hopefully these ones will be similar!

 

[PonderingSage:]

Keep us posted.

 

[MacSpook]

If you haven't already, do a google search for 'bonsai eejit hawthorn'. Loads of good hawthorn info there and he's in Ireland.

Watching this with interest.

 

[Dermot]

If you haven't already, do a google search for 'bonsai eejit hawthorn'. Loads of good hawthorn info there and he's in Ireland.

Watching this with interest.

Thanks for the tip. I follow Ian on Instagram. Very knowledgeable guy for sure

 

[Dermot]

I actually got another hawthorn yesterday. I chopped this one much lower. It was a fabulous root flare. It was actually growing on top of a huge root (maybe 17" across) which was only a few inches below the ground. It was a difficult dig. I wasn't well prepared.

I'm giving this one the black bag treatment. It's in a predominantly pumice mix. I also put in some composted pine bark for additional moisture retention. The container is a little small but it's the biggest I had. Fingers crossed

 

[Dermot]

Hopefully the pictures work this time!

 

[Dermot]

Snug out!

 

[Shibui]

Hope you have good wood carving tools! I can see a lot of wood removed before that reverse taper starts to look good and to disguise the huge chop.
Even down here hawthorn grow as straight vertical trunks 99% of the time. A good trunk with taper and occasionally branches to go with it is like rocking horse droppings.

Not sure I will be around to see the day this one gets to a bonsai pot but good luck with taking it in that direction.

 

[Dermot]

Hope you have good wood carving tools! I can see a lot of wood removed before that reverse taper starts to look good and to disguise the huge chop.
Even down here hawthorn grow as straight vertical trunks 99% of the time. A good trunk with taper and occasionally branches to go with it is like rocking horse droppings.

Not sure I will be around to see the day this one gets to a bonsai pot but good luck with taking it in that direction.

It actually doesn't have reverse taper it's just a slight kick in the trunk below the cut and the camera angle is magnifying it. But either way it's just a big stump that will need major work for sure. Fingers crossed it survives long enough to worry about that step.

 

[Shibui]

Fingers crossed it survives long enough to worry about that step.

Hawthorn! Give it a couple of years but I have no doubts you'll be grinding away at this one at some stage.

 

[MacSpook]

Did you keep any more root cuttings from the dig site? I've read they have a good success rate when potted up.

 

[Dermot]

Did you keep any more root cuttings from the dig site? I've read they have a good success rate when potted up.

Yeah I potted up a big root just to see what happens

 

[Shibui]

Yeah I potted up a big root just to see what happens

Here's one I prepared earlier


It appears root cuttings of Hawthorn grow readily even relatively thick ones.

 

[MacSpook]

Here's one I prepared earlier

That looks really healthy. How long since you potted it?

 

[Shibui]

The root cutting shown was dug last winter so has been in the pot for nearly 6 months now. I have not checked to see if it has new roots but if they are still growing this well so far into summer it usually means everything is OK.