Collecting slash pine?

nsmar4211

Has anyone ever sucessfully collected slash pine? (not sure the scientific name, it's a pine tree down here in Florida).

Now there's some property about to be developed and there's 2 - 3 foot pines right where the road will go, no problem with the owner about getting them as long as I'm the one doing the work. Realistically, I'm not sure they'd work for bonsai (huge needles) but the collection technique is the same whether I put it into another ground spot or a grow box theoretically? I helped plant over 3000 seedlings 15 years ago in 4-H, and the one thing I remember was how important they told us it was not to injure the tap root. I know there's no way I'm going to be able to dig all of the tap root out. How much of it do i need for a 3 foot tall pine? I know not to bareroot them (although, the seedlings we planted were all bareroots!) nor to let the roots dry out (it's right down the road from me, so not a problem). Any other hints? I'm afraid the collecting will have to be done in the next few weeks, so no time for the whack half the roots technique. I was thinking of waiting until after a night night rain and go early in the a.m.

Off topic, it amazes me years later when they finally opened the road along where we had planted those seedlings-they are now big giant trees!!! I mean, all we did was dibble a hole, plop seedling in, use dibble to make another hole right next to it and push the dirt against the roots (creating a water catching hole in the process) and walk away.... no aftercare or anything. We probably had a 20% sucess rate (maybe higher, I haven't stopped and counted the trees LOL)-pretty good for a bunch of kids who had little training and trees that no one paid attention to...... I'd like to have a bit higher sucess rate for these soon-to-be in the way trees.....................

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rockm

Slash pine is a pretty common bonsai subject in the South.

Go here:
http://www.bonsai-bsf.com/color_cy....chor-2004-11481

Click on the Aug. 04 issue of the club magazine. Check out page 11. There's a photo of a pretty nice one.

As for collecting one, I can't help. Never dug one of these. Rule of thumb for pines --don't collect in high summer--like don't do it now. don't bare root, collect as much rootball as possible. Plant in a free draining mix.

Graydon

Don't do it. It's way too hot here in Florida now. I'm in central Florida and have been digging pines for many years. Best done in January or as best as you can hit the coldest period of the year so the tree is dormant. It will take a lot of digging to do it right. You need to trench around the tree leaving a root-ball and then go under that with a sharp shovel or saw and hack the taproot. Do not disturb the existing soil when you dig. I wrap them in old sheets and douse with a little water to keep everything moist. Then hurry back home and carefully wash the old soil off - trim no more roots than what you need to fit into a grow pot or box and plant in fast draining coarse soil with low organic content. DO NOT FERTILIZE YET! Give it a few weeks to recover and then fertilize at half the recommended rate for 6 months. Let it grow for a year or two and then begin root pruning. Top prune after 6 months. If the timing works out the time to hit it with full dosage fertilizer and new candles may work out just right.

I know it sucks to let the trees go but if you dig now there is a 99% chance they are dead anyway. To make yourself feel better go to a good nursery and get a slash pine in a 15 gallon pot - the roots will be better as they only know pot culture.

If you can find sand pine take a look good look at one. They are local Florida pines and have much smaller and very short needles as compared to a slash pine. I have reduced sand pine needles to a consistent 3/4" on some of my trees. They bud back very well on old wood. As far as care treat either sand or slash pine them just like black pines.

Hope this helps.

Repotter

Everytime I tried to dig a tree in Florida it came out just fine but all the Soil (sand) fell right off. So it's real tough to keep soil on it. Florida is mostly sand with a few exceptions, so keep that in mind as well.
Good luck

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