Trees from weeds, what is the name of the weed?

Ray,

Gypsophila (baby's breath)?

Jim

I know this sounds a little lame but here in the south we always called that a stick weed

David

Jim

Thanks for the info. This is a wild weed that grows without any help. If it is part of the gypsophila family, its a new one for me.

Best regards

Ray Marion

Ray,

There are a lot of different varieties of Gyp. We have some that grow wild around here too. Sure beats what they want for dried Gyp. at the craft store. A dip in diluted white glue or matte medium preserves them pretty well.

Jim

On a side note-
Autumn Joy Seedum makes a great scale tree! They are Perennials and at the moment are in Home Depot garden dept for about $15 a plant. If you live in a region that has them. I planted 2 plants this summer and will harvest the trees just before NYE for drying and in the spring will add color and foam to make the tree complete.

I think we all should have at least one Seedum plant! One plant over a few years can save lots of $$$.

Better yet, drive around your neighborhood and I am willing to bet that you will find already established Autumn Joy Sedum plants. I can't wait for late November or early December to "harvest" all of those potential trees. I have made friends with so many folks that are willing to let me trim the old dead stems to add to my forest (after spray glue and flocking added).

Rick

Around here there is tons of goldenrod and ragweed. Hang them up upside down to dry, then hairspray or glue, and ground foam work wonders.

Chris
LVHR

Yeah all great ideas! I got my first seedums from a friends garden. I wanted the plants in my garden too, so I bought some plants.

Chris, have you been up to our club?

All of these techniques are great and cheap. one more to add. If you want to build up a tree trunk, I have found that clay or plumbers putty will work. Just color the trunk with some paint.

Ray Marion

All the trees on this layout at Mercer Junction Train Shoppe are Seedum.
Dave gave me some to finish my layout.

I'll second (third?) the notion for Sedum.









Of course, you need more variety if you're making a forest or more elaborate scene, but Sedum is a great, and very inexpensive route for volume.

Cheers,

John

Sedum trees on the layout:




Rick

Seedum also give you the opportunity to make scale height trees too. Although my seedum has not grown to 100' yet...

Has anyone used goldenrod for trees? There's plenty of it where I live.
thx, Don

Down here we're covered up in camomile they make a great armature for hardwoods

Also stick weeds work very well

I made this today out of pillow filling and stick weed I think they make a pretty good red oak



David

Don

I have used Goldenrod also. right now they are blooming and almost ready. i just hit them with camouflage paint to hold everything together. They need a little trim before flocking.

Ray Marion

This video was just posted of a technique for making trees from Seedum. Poster also has method for making grass from sawdust.

I'll never look at weeds the same way again...

Does anyone know where dried seedum is commercially available? I've tried calling a dozen places around here in the Central PA area and have struck out.

Thanks in advances,

Cesar

Cesar, I would doubt that any place would sell the dried flowers. I would almost guarantee that if you drove around the neighborhoods that you will find some in folks yards. It will look like dead weeds right now, but still perfect for tree making. I have salvaged most of mine and my neighbors, but as I drive around I see so much more. It is found most everywhere in the eastern U.S. There were plants in Georgia and I am finding even more in Southwest Ohio.

Rick

You can get Sedium commercially from woodland scenics. It what makes up their forest canopy kits if it doesn't grow in your area. Although that defeats the purpose of inexpensive trees.

Bill D

Thank you Rick and Bill for the comments.

I happened to run into my neighbor and asked if he had seedum where he has a camp site in Carlisle and he brought back a shopping bag full

This is my first attempt at these while watching that Baylor-Washington shootout









I dipped the seedum in 1 part water and 1 part Elmers White Glue, then dipped them in Woodland Scenics Course Turf. 1st in Fall Yellow, then in Fall Orange, followed by Fall Red and then I sprinkled Fine Blended Turf (Earth Blend) on top. I borrowed some of my GF's hair spray to solidify.

Tip: Work the Course Turf into the seedum with your fingers, the top of the seedum will separate and wont give you that clumpy look.

Cesar

Well in that case I'm going for a walk tomarrow to find some