wireme
Masterpiece
Here's a few of my methods for packing trees up in preparation for the hike out. My trips out can be rough, loose unstable scree, steep cliffy stuff and worst of all thick forest dense brush, sometimes all in the same places. Getting fragile roots and deadwood out in one piece is a challenge, trees need to be maneuvered, woven through the gnar, upside down, right side up backwards etc...
I treat the rootballs like a wilderness first aid injury immobilizing everything the best I can. Thin sheets of fine matted roots often cannot be bent, they will just break.
Here's a tree collected last week, I carry a bag full of pre- moistened burlap, nice and wet. I used to just wrap in plastic and moss but I like the burlap better, right away providing a nice moist supportive covering. I also carry a misting bottle, misting exposed roots as I work and covering exposed roots with the moist burlap while working the other side. once the tree is ready to lift I lay the burlap down on the nearest flatish spot (in this case on an ants nest, not recommended). Carefully check for roots that need supporting before lifting the tree! The weight of soil and fine roots can break the supporting root off if lifted the wrong way sometimes.
The tree was carefully carried to the anthill and laid on the burlap. Burlap tied and an L shaped stick tied on as a splint stabilizing roots to trunk. Sometimes pulling the roots tight to themselves can be damaging too so folds of burlap or handfuls of moss can be used like a blanket between the legs of someone with a pelvic injury. Then, working alone the tree was balanced in a stump and the works tightly wrapped with packing plastic, the rolls of stretchy stuff you know? I would not leave home without that stuff.
I treat the rootballs like a wilderness first aid injury immobilizing everything the best I can. Thin sheets of fine matted roots often cannot be bent, they will just break.
Here's a tree collected last week, I carry a bag full of pre- moistened burlap, nice and wet. I used to just wrap in plastic and moss but I like the burlap better, right away providing a nice moist supportive covering. I also carry a misting bottle, misting exposed roots as I work and covering exposed roots with the moist burlap while working the other side. once the tree is ready to lift I lay the burlap down on the nearest flatish spot (in this case on an ants nest, not recommended). Carefully check for roots that need supporting before lifting the tree! The weight of soil and fine roots can break the supporting root off if lifted the wrong way sometimes.
The tree was carefully carried to the anthill and laid on the burlap. Burlap tied and an L shaped stick tied on as a splint stabilizing roots to trunk. Sometimes pulling the roots tight to themselves can be damaging too so folds of burlap or handfuls of moss can be used like a blanket between the legs of someone with a pelvic injury. Then, working alone the tree was balanced in a stump and the works tightly wrapped with packing plastic, the rolls of stretchy stuff you know? I would not leave home without that stuff.
