Part 2
You're Finally There, Now to Dig
After driving for several early morning hours, having breakfast, then driving again to a place known only to the leaders, and finally arriving near some mountain where the California's are growing, it's time to get out the equipment you have put together and try to find a tree. When you get out of the car, you understand why you brought the jacket and sweatshirt. Desert mornings are cold. Grab your shovel, mattock, strap on the backpack and you're ready. You did pack some water, snacks and a lunch. Look around, and see where the cars are parked, and the direction of the hills or ridges. Now's the time to check that compass; it'll make finding your way back easier. It's time for you and your buddy to start walking.
You'll notice that the old timers have disappeared. Some have a favorite place, others may have staked out a tree on an earlier trip. But it's not likely they're down in a gully where the lush trees are growing. The desert wind and harsh weather conditions create the best trees on or near ridges or on the slopes facing into the wind. Trees with good movement in branches are seldom found on the shady slopes; they're usually spread along a ridge and down the sunny side. Take out the toilet paper and wrap a piece around a branch on the tree you think you may want to dig. Some folks believe the female tree, with small cones or seedpods are strongest and most likely to survive. Look for trunk caliper and movement of the branches. Are the branches straight and uninteresting, or are there bends or curves that create interest in the tree? Is the foliage near the trunk, or far out on the end of the branches? If the branches are too long, it may be difficult to create a good style. Talk to your buddy, get another opinion, and move on until you select one that you can style and create into your own masterpiece.
Now the work begins. Shake the tree to see if it's loose in the ground. If it moves around, it may have poor root structure, and probably should be left alone. When you have made your selection, take the loppers and cut off the lower branches that won't be used in the final design. This will give you room to start digging. Scratch a circle out about a foot or so from the trunk, and dig a trench around the tree, cutting the roots as you go. The trench will probably be a foot or more deep, creating a ball of soil around the trunk of the tree. If the tree is small, cutting under the soil and collecting the whole ball and tree is the best approach. That requires cutting beneath the ball, finding the taproot, and cutting it with the saw, pruners, or loppers. Work the plastic or cloth beneath the tree and wrap the ball, if possible, before you lift it out. With real skill you will have the entire root ball and most roots undamaged. What usually happens to small tree and essentially the entire larger tree is the ball breaks up, exposing the roots. Brush off the pieces of dirt, exposing the rest of the roots; it will get rid of the excess soil, and make the tree lighter to lift and carry. Use the pruners to make clean cuts on the end of the exposed roots. Lift the tree out of the hole. Take particular care of any white fine, soft roots. These are the active roots that are feeding the tree and should be protected. Spray them and wrap them immediately. Wrap the white fine roots with the sphagnum moss being careful not to break or damage them and wrap the moss with Mylar plastic wrap or cloth; secure it with some electrical tape. Spray all the unwrapped roots periodically with water to keep them from drying out. Continue wrapping the roots until all are protected. When the tree is out and all the roots wrapped, set the tree in the shade and spray with water.
Look at the tree and cut back excess foliage. Think about the trees you have seen in a show and remember that there aren't a lot of branches. For the freshly dug tree, it will take a while for the roots to develop and support the foliage, and the roots won't be able to feed all the foliage that is now on the tree. Talk to your buddy, or a more experienced member, and they will help trim back your prize. Before you leave backfill the hole with soil and the cut branches. Now you can break out the rope or bungi cords and tie the tree to the frame of the backpack. You may wind up having to sit down, slide on the shoulder straps, and then stand. The tree is likely to be heavy and awkward, but with patience and care, you will get it back to the car. Now you have dug a California juniper. What's next?
Leave the tree in the shade; don't put it in the car. It will likely be too hot and start drying it out. Spray periodically through the day to keep the foliage damp. When you're ready to go put it in the car or truck; if you're driving a pick-up, the tree will need to be protected from the wind on the drive home. Driving at 70 mph on the freeway with your tree in the exposed bed of a pick-up will turn your masterpiece into firewood real quick. If it's too late to pot your tree when you get home, soak it in a tub of water with some Superthrive® until the next day. That's a California juniper dig.