Wild Collecting 102

Vonsgardens

Wow, a resurrection. Um, in our area I find it best to get as much of the "mountain" soil as possible off of the roots after collection. I don't hose wash pines or junipers, but I do place in water and attempt to remove as much soil as possible. In our hot climate bringing mountain trees like RMj and Ponderosa pine down into the heat with all of that organic duff on roots leads to anoxia and rot. Note, I did not say wash with a hose to the bare root, we leave the material coating the roots, but disentangle the roots and the large clumps of organic junk and then plant them carefully in to a rapidly draining but moisture retentive mixture.

Perhaps the most critical step is to secure the tree firmly in the container (box, tub, pot, whatever) so that the tree cannot move. Too many trees die because the can move around in the container and break off the new roots. One of the reasons why I really like to put collected pines and junipers into either a box or a ceramic (clay) pot- provides the rigidity needed to secure the tree appropriately.

We fertilize very lightly after the tree shows signs of growth. These trees have lived in "nutritionally challenged" locations for a long time and can get by quite well, in my climate, with little external nourishment until they start to grow. Others do it differently, that is fine with me.

John

__________________
"Wiring is simple; However, it is not easy to do it right" Boon