Collecting Red Cedar / Lodgepole

MattO

I am planning a collecting trip for next month in the Clearwater Nat. Forest, which is close by. I have spoken with the folks at the Ranger station and gotten much advise from them. Permits are easily obtained ( I can get up to 10 trees at no cost).
They advise me that there are numerous stunted, twisted, <4ft trees in some specific areas that they have marked on maps for me, where they are growing on rocky slopes and thin soil. The majority of these are Western Red Cedar, and some lodgepole.
Lodge pole pine are very numerous in this area, so there are many small trees to look at.

I am interested in hearing first hand experiences in collecting these trees, and any advice that you may have.

The areas I will be visiting have numerous logging roads and Forest Service access roads, so I will most likely not be too far from a vehicle at any time. Snow conditions right now may push the trip back till early April, but we shall see.


Matt

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bisjoe

That's great that they are so helpful. I talked to the rangers at the Olympic National forest and about all they will do is issue the permit and tell me where not to collect.

I have collected Western Redcedars, in fact have one to dig up soon. Make sure it's a cool day and get them back as soon as you can. Mines coming from my own property so it's not an issue, but they will lose a lot of moisture through the foliage espacially in the back of a pickup. Wrapping the roots in wet moss is best, though newspaper will work too, the main thing is to have plastic bags over the foliage.

Don't prune until it's recovered and thriving in a pot or your ground. That applies to all conifers.

I have no experience with lodgepoles, but I hope you find some good ones and have great success.