Collecting Hackberry

Anybody collect in the fall- I have several "stumps" in an old cactus bed that are nice enough to collect and I'd really like to get this bed cleaned up. I've basically cut them down to a few small low branches (if any). I could wait but they are kind of an eyesore. Naka discusses collecting natives in the fall - that's why I'm considering it. That, and the wife wants that bed cleaned out because its in the front of the house.

These are 3-4" trunks with one nice fluted one at about 8".... I've been wacking at them for several years so they are decent looking but have never touched the roots. I dug one about 1-2" in diameter mid July and threw it in a pot... It went crispy but I noticed the other day it has put out new growth.

I also lost a monster hackberry (3' trunk) during Ike and have been trying to get the root suckers for rafts but they seem dis-inclined to pursue their new lives but that's another collecting post..

First frost for me is mid December. I'm in Gulf Coast TX... have a cold greenhouse so I could provide reasonable protection.

Thanks.

I, too have been wondering why the Fall wouldn't be a good time for collecting.

If the plant material is dormant and it is 'protected' after collection, I'd say go for it.
That's my plan for some bald cypress I've had my eye on for 6 months.

Jim,

I have my hackberrys in colanders in the growing troughs and will lift them around December, place them in shade on the north side of the house. Then around the last week of January, they will enter the refrigerator at crisper temperature until April 1st.
This is the cycle that these trees have had since 1980 or so.
They were collected as seedlings and later as sprouted roots left over from the lifted colanders.
Maybe you can factor that into your collecting.
Later.
Khaimraj

* I am trying for close to 2.5 inch [ 6.5 cm ] trunks before I start training at eventual heights of around 15 inches [ 38 cm ]