Latest boxwood score.

[Poink88]

Last night I checked Craigslist and saw a free hedge ad. Emailed the guy and we arranged for me to collect today. Got there at 8:45 am and did not finish until 12:45...it took me 4 hours to collect 6 trees. They were about 4.5 feet tall when I started.

There are 14 live trees but I have to leave 8 behind...I am tired. Got home and potted them and finished around 7:30. I am beat especially since in excitement I did not eat lunch until 4:30...because I started shaking. LOL

Pic of the hedge on Craigslist ad...
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After I got home...
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Sorry, no pics of the potted plants yet. Too tired and the sun already set. I will post once I snapped some.

Oh, I called a bonsai friend when I got there (to share the loot) but he was working today. I talked to the owner if my friend can collect the rest later and he said he is open to the idea. They'll discuss it . There are really nice ones still left but I have no more space!

 

[Nybonsai12]

Nice haul! Without looking too much I think I see a lot of slant style trees there. Looking forward to seeing more pics!

 

[NewWorldBonsai]

Heck yes! Nice find! It's hard work but well worth it. If your friend doesn't show dig out the rest and I'll buy them off of you

I have to ask how are you collecting these things?

 

[Poink88]

Heck yes! Nice find! It's hard work but well worth it. If your friend doesn't show dig out the rest and I'll buy them off of you

I have to ask how are you collecting these things?

I think they agreed for next weekend. The owner wanted me to get all of it but I am getting old for these monsters. I decided to try shohin and I get these LOL.

I mostly use a lopper and this reciprocating saw http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-071...7Q2Q/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1367724761&sr=8-4

Even with these I had to re-charge both batteries because of rocks. Hand digging becomes necessary too when there are rocks. Without rocks I can get a tree these size in less than 15 minutes.

I also use; trenching shovel, trowel, large and small pick.

 

[Poink88]

Nice haul! Without looking too much I think I see a lot of slant style trees there. Looking forward to seeing more pics!

Yep, I tried to plant some in more upright position but won't force it if it won't work. This is what you'll get when the hedge is close to the wall.

 

[gionk]

Cool! Great find! I just rescued some from my yard this weekend as well. They needed to be removed, and I decided to try and salvage them. Maybe I'll start a thread too

 

[Tona]

Hey Dario,
Great score!! Your becoming the Boxwood King!!
Tona

 

[Poink88]

Hey Dario,
Great score!! Your becoming the Boxwood King!!
Tona

Definitely not...thought I admit to have close to 2 dozen boxwood (less several that I donated for raffle to our local club).

 

[Poink88]

BTW, Just learned that the house was built on 1965. When these bushes actually got planted is unknown. As far as I can tell...these could be as old as the house.

Also apparently these were planted on 6" tin cans. Several still have rusted remnants of the cans. LOL

 

[gionk]

Yeah, I was trying to determine the date on mine also.. Man you got a lot of those!

 

[NewWorldBonsai]

I think they agreed for next weekend. The owner wanted me to get all of it but I am getting old for these monsters. I decided to try shohin and I get these LOL.

I mostly use a lopper and this reciprocating saw http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-071...7Q2Q/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1367724761&sr=8-4

Even with these I had to re-charge both batteries because of rocks. Hand digging becomes necessary too when there are rocks. Without rocks I can get a tree these size in less than 15 minutes.

I also use; trenching shovel, trowel, large and small pick.

Aw man, yea rocks are a real bummer (almost as bad as hitting a water main) I just got a bunch of Natal Plum and Juniper off a landscape where it was all mulched with big river rock. I'm not sure of your physical capabilities but a good cutting spade will make life a dream. I use a similar shovel and they can literally cut through a fire log just like an axe. This and a saw are the only tools I take into the woods and no tree can withstand their fury.

 

[Poink88]

Aw man, yea rocks are a real bummer (almost as bad as hitting a water main) I just got a bunch of Natal Plum and Juniper off a landscape where it was all mulched with big river rock. I'm not sure of your physical capabilities but a good cutting spade will make life a dream. I use a similar shovel and they can literally cut through a fire log just like an axe. This and a saw are the only tools I take into the woods and no tree can withstand their fury.

View attachment 35300

I am a tiny 5'-6" tall, 145 lb guy...strong enough for my size but definitely not a hunk.

That said, I need to get me one of those! Thanks!

BTW, looking at the pic...I am leaning on the middle one. Your thoughts?

 

[october]

Great finds and for free, you can't beat that. You have certainly collected some great material and have quite the nice collection of trees beginning their training. I think you are ready for more in depth bonsai techniques. I am mostly referring to wiring. All your material is awesome. However, almost all the trees do not really have many, if any, branches. Now is the absolute perfect time to get some trees with branches and practice wiring. This way, as all your material grows its branches, you will be able to get in there and wire cleanly and effectively. Usually you have to wire quite a few trees, literally hundreds, before techniques are polished. Your future nice specimen bonsai will definitely benefit from refined wiring techniques.

Rob

 

[NewWorldBonsai]

I am a tiny 5'-6" tall, 145 lb guy...strong enough for my size but definitely not a hunk.

That said, I need to get me one of those! Thanks!

BTW, looking at the pic...I am leaning on the middle one. Your thoughts?

Just be careful! I know people have cut off their own toes with these before. It will bust through concrete and irrigation as well. lol just treat it like an axe it's not to be given to inexperienced people.

The best shovels for collecting are going to be totally flat but they sell them with some curvature(bevel) so that they dig as well as cut. I've gotten both and the flat ones cut most efficiently. The best all purpose one for bushes and small trees has a perfect U shape (a lot of brands make them from $60-$100). I wouldn't get that pointed one. You want the edge to meet flush with the wood, the point will constantly deflect all your force to one side. A good shovel will cut roots very cleanly too, much better than you could get with a saw.

The last and most important part is technique. Do not slam the shovel under the rootball than crank the shovel back and try to pry the plant out. Cut a solid rootball all the way around pushing the handle towards the bush and thereby pushing the outside dirt away to make room. The end result should be a beautiful root ball with all the soil attached.

 

[Si Nguyen]

Good score! You have enough there for nice forest!
Good luck with them.
Si

 

[Poink88]

Thanks for the tips NWB! I have a cheap trenching spade from HarborFreight that may work. I just need to remind myself to use it more LOL. I'll give it a try next time and if it doesn't cut it...I will buy a better one. I always wear my hiking boots when collecting. Not quite steel toe but close.

@Si, forest? I can barely lift each!

They are a bit lighter now with reduced root ball and trimmed branches but they are still heavy and averaging 30" tall right now. I will continue reducing them down and might have to graft new branches if they don't back bud.

Though not final and can change, I think I've found the appropriate style and front on 3...still looking at the other 3.

 

[Poink88]

Two of my favorite from this batch...

Carving will follow once it is well established and some grafting after the donor whips are grown. Long term but I think will be worth it.

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[Poink88]

BTW, these are the 4th and 2nd (respectively) from left of the 1st pic on post #1.

After the grafts have taken, some of the branches will be reduced/shortened.

 

[GrimLore]

Nice work in a short time period, Thanks for the update