Collecting From The Nursery
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There are many reasons one may decide to purchase quality stock from a local nursery or 'box' store instead of a bonsai store. I do it because I have found some very nice stock there at fantastic prices. Other reasons include shopping on a budget, no local bonsai stores, convenience, and fun.
I admit that I am a stock addict and recently had to expand my growing beds to make up for all the deals I have found. Over time I have learned a few things about looking for stock at these places and I thought I’d share them here with you.
* Take your time - don’t be shy!
* Relax, take your time and look at every single plant.
* Lift up the pot, brush the needles and leaves away, run your fingers into the soil, feel the roots, see how far down the trunk goes.
* Look at the branch placement; see if there is a tree waiting to be set free.
* Tip the pot upside down and inspect the root ball, check to see that the roots are healthy and they fill the soil mass.
* Beware the nursery trick of putting a 2-gallon plant into a 5-gallon pot and shoving soil in. Don’t pay the 5-gallon price for a 2-gallon plant!
Sure the staff will think you’re nuts, I love that, in fact I encourage that perception, that way they leave me alone, in time they will laugh with you!
In the pictures below is a Mugho Pine that looks like any ordinary nursery stock on the surface. Only by digging deep with my fingers did I discover the hidden treasure below. Once home, I removed some of the nursery pot rim and the upper surface of soil, amazing what lies hidden sometimes.
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Befriend the manager and staff
The manager can be your best source for quality stock.
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The Mugho shown at left was one that a employee at a box store set aside for me, knowing I’d like it., Once I spent time with the counter girl, laughing and trying to sell her a car while complaining that the huge Jades they has were overpriced. She ended up calling me later that week to tell me those jades were now 50% off! A short while after I bought those jades, I dropped of a bottle of wine to her; I know about every sale they have now!
A manager at a local box store calls me now whenever they have a new shipment in and recently has started setting aside the “thick ones” for me. She even asks if there’s any species that I would like to see ordered!
Just be friendly and ask: most people love to feel important and are dying to be appreciated. Asking is the key here, explain what you do and answer questions, then ask if you could be notified when new stock comes in.
A little grease never hurts either. I gave some extra Auto Show tickets to the man at a box store here and he has never failed to walk me to what he thinks are the best deals whenever I come in.
Most still think I’m a little nuts, but we have fun and I fully plan on dropping off a little bonsai to each soon…
Be an out-of-season buyer
Look for the end of season sales, late fall or winter here is sometimes the best time to buy as the stores are looking to empty out the nursery for the winter. This is a great time to find deals but the selection usually is low and picked though. Knowing the staff sometimes helps with getting forewarning on a sale, see above.
Save that trash!
Nurseries will toss things that start to look wilted or mark them down considerably. I never fail to make a trip past the dumpster on my way to the store, it’s amazing how many trees and plants are tossed that simply need a little TLC. Knowing the staff will get this stuff set aside for you, see above.
Don't be afraid to walk!
Never settle for less. Who cares if you just molested every root system in the place? Have standards, and stick to them. On the other hand if you see something you like, buy it now! Waiting will only ensure that it ends up in someone's fence garden. Never, never ask the staff to hold something for you; this only inconveniences them and most likely is asking them to break policies.
I recently had the honor of accompanying Vance Wood to a local nursery and learning stock selection his way. The results were amazing.
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Collecting From Urban Environments
I pass a lot of homes both in the city and up north that has overgrown landscaping and I have found that the simple act of asking a homeowner if they would like those old over grown shrubs removed free of charge usually results in permission happily given. Sometimes I will throw in the offer of replacing the old shrubs with new, fresh, young ones, an offer not refused often.
There are literally millions of old over grown shrubs out there. Junipers, Yews, Boxwoods, Rose of Sharon’s, holly, etc. just waiting to be discarded or used. I am sure that most of you have seen shrubs that were fantastic but never stopped to ask, This is a incredible source of developed bonsai stock that should be taken advantage of before they end up in pieces on the curb side.
The key to obtaining permission is to be polite and offer a needed service. If you are refused, thank them kindly and leave your number in case they ever decide to make a change. Trust me, they will call you back if you made a good impression.
Once permission is given, remember that they will refer you if you do a good job. Always backfill the hole, I carry some grass seed so I can seed the area as well. Never drive on the grass and always leave the area looking better than it did before you came.
There is a member of our club that actually advertises this service and charges very little if anything to remove old shrubs and trees. He has acquired some of the best stock you can imagine while performing a valuable service, saving trees that otherwise would have been discarded, and promoting a service that gives all bonsaists a good name.
The pictures below show Vance Wood and myself putting a urban collected Cedar into a training box made out of a discarded drawer. The last picture is of a Maple that I rescued from a farmer who was attempting to yank it out of the ground with his truck.
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The final word is to get out there, obtain permission and enjoy!