Time to start collecting?

[Krone]

Have you guys started to collect the trees yet?
Temperatures at night are around 0C, -2C / 32F - 28F and the buds are swelling already. Really weird weather.
Not sure how long should / could i still wait.

 

[Bayard]

Hi there Krone,

Before I start I have to tell you that I´m a complete novice in bonsai. I´ve just started reading both books about bonsai, pruning and tree biology.

My wife who´s a "certified" gardener says that even if it could be ok to collect yamadori now since the buds are swelling, the risk is that it could be a cold snap (I meen it´s still february) making the newly gathered yamadori die.

 

[Krone]

the risk is that it could be a cold snap (I meen it´s still february) making the newly gathered yamadori die.

That is the main thing i am afraid of.

 

[Bayard]

Though I´ve been collecting now. I´m storing them in our glazed terrace, hoping for the best. But hey, if they die they die and then I´ve learned a lesson =)

 

[RKatzin]

I'm chomping at the bit too! It's still freezing at night though so I'm holding off still. I'm working on a couple sites doing some preliminary clearing of brush and debris, but no digging yet. March and April I'll start with trees at lower elevations and work my way up the mountain.

 

[BrianBay9]

I love coastal California! My collecting is done. Everything is budding out.

 

[dtreesj]

The weather lately has been annoying me. Last year things started budding early but then there was a cold snap as usual. It makes me concerned about my grapes and roses etc. Last year I cut back my roses because it was getting warm but then it started freezing again and they died back to the ground. It makes pruning really confusing.

 

[Krone]

Have just came home from the forest. The buds are swelling but there is no green visible in the buds. I think i still have couple of weeks of time left.

 

[plant_dr]

Have just came home from the forest. The buds are swelling but there is no green visible in the buds. I think i still have couple of weeks of time left.

Yeah, better wait.