Sunday 20 October 2013

Autumn Collection

Spring is the traditional time of year for yamadori collection here in the UK, but last year I experimented with Autumn collection, taking a single large Taxus. That Taxus survived its first year and continues to thrive. Below is that tree photographed today.

Last Autumn's Taxus
I decided to take a larger collection of trees this Autumn and spent yesterday with my two friends, John and Robert, digging yamadori in Cumbria. I came home with three new yews and one hawthorn. Most of the hawthorn had already lost all their leaves in contrast to the local trees around my Cheshire home which are still green. I am always amazed by the hardships that upland trees endure, including their short growth season - coming into leaf much later and losing their leaves much earlier than lowland trees.

My new Taxus

My hawthorn
John collected a huge hawthorn with a lot of potential and Rob took a nice hawthorn as well as one yew.
John's hawthorn
I am beginning to run short of room in my garden, so may post some yamadori for sale on this blog soon... We have lots more to collect in Spring!

3 comments:

  1. Hi have been given permission by my father in law to collect a pyracantha its about 10 feet tall and 10 inches across at tbe base multi trunked and approximately 50 years old but could be over 70 it has been pruned annually to his knowledge for in excess of thirty years .Do you have any collection tips? Many thanks Phil

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  2. Hi Phil. Now is the perfect time to be collecting! Pyracantha is a very easy species to collect too - they require very little root to survive. Collect now, remove any thick roots and plant into an open soil mix. You should have no problems at all.

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  3. Hi my name is Sean and I have a question? I have a taxus that I'd like to harvest now do you think it's way to late in the season to do so?? Thank You for any help you seem to love hunting. Me too!!!. Nice trees hope there good . Sean,

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