urgent help: collecting junipers

UGA_22

Here is the situation. Back at my parent's house, just outside Atlanta, my mom informed me that the 5 or 6 junipers in the side yard will be bulldozed anyday because they're in the lot next door, which was previously empty and unowned, not my parent's lot. These trees, to my best recollection, are about 10-14 years old ranging from 5-6 feet tall, with slightly smaller foliage spread, with trunks about 4-6 inches in diameter. Anyhow, I'm looking for advice from people with experience digging junipers. When is the best time to grab these guys? (I know it's not in the middle of summer, but I'd rather dig them up and at least try if it comes to it) Also, how much of the rootball should I retain? What about foliage pruning? What specifics should I rigorously follow in their aftercare? PLEASE HELP ME, I would hate to see these trees go to waste. Any and all help, advice, criticism is greatly apprecieated. Thanks.

UGA_22

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patmac

Obviously now is not the time to try and collect any trees. But if it means attempting to save the trees life. Go for it. Also check out this thread.Protection Collection Vance Wood and RockM gave me some good advice on a juniper that I collected earlier this summer. (Similar situation)

Good Luck UGA_22
Keep us posted.

Patrick

rockm

For what it's worth, the lot isn't "unowned." It's owned by someone since it's being bulldozed and developed. That someone might hold the key to unlocking your problem.

If you can find the owner and tell him you'd like one or two (don't be greedy or you will probably raise the owner's interest in the trees) of the junipers for your yard. Ask him/her if the plants could be taken away when the site is levelled and find out when the dozers are due. Usually site owners will let you cart away stuff they don't want, provided you stay out of the way of the machinery.

The day the work is being done, make sure you are there. Let the operators know you have owners' permission to get a couple of the trees. You might even ask if they'd push one or two of them up for you (obviously taking care not to destroy them and with an aim to getting alot of rootball). This approach could net you a juniper with alot of roots with little effort.

Once out of the ground, placement in a good draining bonsai mix in a growing container large enough to contain the rootball (which may or may not have to be reduced--depending on top reduction and sheer volume).

Winter shelter from the wind is a must. Protection of the rootball from freezing this winter would dramatically increase chances of survival too.

UGA_22

Thanks for the suggestion, it never even dawned on me to ask the equipment operators for a little friendly help. The only problem I have with the situation is that the trees are at my parent's place, and needless to say I'm not there much to be updated on the situation, but I'll see what I can find out. On the other hand though, the junipers are pretty large, big enough that one can't even see the trunks without crawling hands and knees under the canopy. I guess what I'm really concerned about is how much foliage pruning would (or lack thereof) would maximize the trees survival chances, same with the roots too. Once again, Thanks.

Will_Heath

The little knowledge I have can be found here in this urban collecting thread and the wild collecting threads.


Good Luck,


Will

rockm

"I guess what I'm really concerned about is how much foliage pruning would (or lack thereof) would maximize the trees survival chances, same with the roots too. "

This is a tough question --the answer is a very grey area. It depends on a number of things, like how much root is left, how much top growth you need to leave to maximize growth and support the roots, but balance out the need to mimimize transpiration from the edited rootball. Equal portions of both would probably be a good rule of thumb to start with.

If you can, make the time to get out there and see if you can't convince the owners and dozer operators to help you out. It would be worth your while and the tree's. If they are pushed up, rather than dug up, you will get more viable roots and probably a better shot at survival. Take some of your friends to help move the plants. It sounds like you're going to have root masses that weigh alot.

UGA_22