This is my first sapling .. currently researching, would be easier in the spring.

She is currently 30 inches tall, didn't want to trim to much. Had to take 20 inches off the top.



This is the shari I would like to keep with the tree, but it is located 20 inches up.

Hey there,
I was just looking at the submissions with no responses and saw this one.I thought we responded...weird.oh wait I remember now.... the i.d of the tree. haha
I have an idea. If you want to keep the top of this tree, try to air layer it. You can get 2 trees for the price of one. Since the tree has to be chopped anyway, if it doesn't work you have lost nothing.
Good luck.

I still say almost definitely some variety of Ligustrum. The leaves are identical - even the light green underneath is very telling of Ligustrum.

It very well could be a variety of privet. just not the japanese privet. I have a ligustrum ovalfolium and the leaves are similar. I am in zone 4 and it does quite well outside.
If it is a privet she will have no problem air layering it.. fun!!!! :woohoo:

So what have you tried on your tree aklister?

tree didn't make it .. guess it didn't handle being transplanted very well. I will get my trees from nurseries in the future rather than a back yard.

Live and Learn I suppose.

Don't give up on back yard trees yet.
Following a few rules will give you better luck..
Collect trees in early spring, before bed break.
Get as much root ball as possible.
Keep the original soil around the root ball.
Plant it in a big pot trying not to disturb the root ball.
use well draining soil.
Keep it where it will get morning sun and afternoon shade.
It's pretty successful for me...this is all I do.

:lol: I never really give up.

Just gotta learn more about it - I will try to snag one somewhere in Missouri once I get settled. Early April - I will have more room to work with and I can keep it outside.

Thanx for the reply Pinkham, I will dig one up - let it grow for a while before I work with it.

Let any tree collected rest until the following spring before any work starts.

If you want to collect an established tree you will need to force it to grow hairroots close to the trunk first.

The tree sends out roots. And pretty much only the first cm's of active growing roots absorb moisture & nutrients. once the root turns brown, most of this functionality of gone. As the plant grows, the roots grow further from the tree (Which makes sens, as the tree has already used the relevant nutrients closer to the trunk). But this also means that the most effective part fo the plant when it comes tomoisture an nutrients, is far from the trunk. You come in with a showvel and start chopping all the ends off.. Plant has a hard time.

Instead: In late winter or early spring, take a shovel, and just cut a ring around the trunk, justoutside the perimeter of the canopy. As the plant has taproots going fairly vertical, you will not kill the tree. However, the cut roots will resprout and create new supporting roots, closer to the trunc. In late summer the plant will be ready to transplant.