Large Urban/Garden Juniper Collection Advice

kalare

Sapling
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Hi All,

I'm considering digging two or three quite large junipers. Two are hollywood juniper, probably 6-8 inches in trunks and 5-6 feet tall, probably 5 feet apart from one another. Another is a collected California juniper, that was collected in the desert and then planted in a garden probably 20 years ago, it's also around 6-8 inches in diameter and 6 feet tall.

I've never dug a juniper in a garden (or from nature for that matter) and wondered if there's anything I should look out for. None have been regularly watered. I know there's decent information regarding collecting from the wild, however I'm figuring this may be a bit different since they won't be in pockets or sand or anything like that. Any typical things to watch for in urban junipers? Unfortunately this will be a one day dig (per tree)...I can't spade around the tree and go back next spring.

Thanks
 

Bonsai Nut

Nuttier than your average Nut
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(1) Do not reduce the foliage too much. Foliage is the key to success.
(2) Obviously, get as much roots as possible.
(3) Keep the foliage hydrated and protected - via greenhouse, humidity tent, whatever. Think of it like a big cutting that you have to protect. The roots will catch up eventually.

Lots of foliage - but keep it protected and don't let it dry out!
 

kalare

Sapling
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Thanks, should I be reducing some of the top of the tree and foliage that will not be used due to the reduction of root mass, or should I try and keep all the foliage? I'm reading conflicting info. Some say keep all, some say reduce a bit in proportion to root loss.
 

kalare

Sapling
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Thanks all. I'm still unsure if I want to dig the CA juniper, it's huge and looks like it has potential, and is priced very well...I'm just worried I'll dig it and it'll die in 6 months.
 

RobertB

Chumono
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I would definitely try myself mostly because I am currently looking for something like that.
 

kalare

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Ok, so if I do dig it, I'll probably spend the better part of a day getting as many roots as possible, save ALL the foliage (I'll have to rent a pickup to transport it anyways), put it in a custom sized wood grow out container with 100% pumice and place in partial shade with 2x/day automatic misting....

With it still having the possibility of going belly up, what do you think this thing is worth paying for?
 

Dav4

Drop Branch Murphy
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Ok, so if I do dig it, I'll probably spend the better part of a day getting as many roots as possible, save ALL the foliage (I'll have to rent a pickup to transport it anyways), put it in a custom sized wood grow out container with 100% pumice and place in partial shade with 2x/day automatic misting....

With it still having the possibility of going belly up, what do you think this thing is worth paying for?
Honestly, I wouldn't pay much. You're doing all the digging and there's no guarantee of success. A large trunked juniper established in a pot for several years would be worth many hundreds of dollars, but as they are, I'm not sure you should pay more then a token fee for collecting them.
 

augustine

Chumono
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Personally I would prefer to cut the roots with a sharp spade to stimulate feeder roots close to trunk but I know that's probably not possible under circumstances. Let it be for two years and then collect
 

kalare

Sapling
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Ended up passing on it. Would take lots of carving and time and probably wouldn't be what I wanted in the end. I'll most likely end up paying premium for a nice trunk from a collector, however after 5-10 years of development, at least I'll have what I wanted in the beginning.
 
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