Manzanita galore

[WaywardFlock]

So where I live, I have access to TONS of wild growing manzanita bushes. My questions is how do I make the branches safe for a DIY tree?
They are so dang expensive, I can't see buying one if I can make it!

 

[Birdman666]

MY NEW BEST FRIEND...

Where I lived in Norcal we had it growing wild too... never had to pay for it before. (Sure! That's what every guy says, right?!)

I used to just take it down to the local self service car wash and pressure wash the hell out of it with soap and water.

Some folks bake them. Couldja send me a tree or two.

 

[WaywardFlock]

My good friend is a hot shot fire crew, so his job is to cut and clear a bunch out! You pay shipping, I'll send ya a ton of trees =)

 

[Kiwibird]

I always just scrubbed the life out of it with a stiff-bristle brush and power-hosed it off before letting it bake in the sun.

 

[Sterling1113]

If the branches are small enough I run my wood perches through the dishwasher (no soap). The water gets hot enough to kill germs. Then let it dry in the sun for a day or so until I feel it's dry
P.S my birthday is in July if you have an extra tree.. I know my birds would love one.

 

[Birdman666]

You must be in California.

Many of my playstands came from wood reclaimed from fire hazard clearance.

I could spring for shipping on a couple of trees... I think we can make arrangements through UPS.

 

[MomtoPercy]

I'm so jealous!!! Lucky you!! . I have to hunt high and low for wild branches.

 

[Kiwibird]

You must be in California.

OR Arizona. We used to have the fire crews come through every year to clear brush, and also did the 'fire wise' program where they'd clear peoples yards.

 

[Birdman666]

I used to love manzanita harvest time in NorCal. That's where Sally's homemade playstand came from.

 

[Agapornis]

One of the great things about living in California...free manzanita branches! Hubby made a great play stand for my 2 little dragons. All the cleaning methods people mentioned above will work fine. I scrubbed mine with hot water and hydrogen peroxide. Then baked them in the oven on 200 for a couple hours.

Post a pic of your DIY project when you're done!

 

[Kiwibird]

My parents yard was overrun with manzanita bushes at one time (before there was a fire close enough it burned houses across the street, and then they had it all removed), and if you drove 2 miles up the road, you were in dense national forest full of prime pickings. Though if you do that, you may want to keep an eye out for forestry people as the feds DO in fact care VERY MUCH if one is to take a couple measly old dead branches for their feathered companions off their millions upon millions of acres covered in dead branches. Though I must say, I think Kiwi enjoyed his 'pilfered' tree all the more before he chewed it beyond repair:54:.

 

[javi]

Oh I wish we had that near me. I know there is a woman about four hours away that have grapevine growing like weeds. I am lucky to have bottlebrush growing so i cut that and give to birds

 

[WaywardFlock]

Yep, I'm in good old Cali. There is actually a "manzanita permit" I am going to get, which lets me legally go out and take as much as I want. I don't want to always be looking over my shoulder lol They are a huge fire hazzard up there so they don't mind at all, just want a record of who is doing what. Now it's just a matter of packing my little two door honda civic with large branches every time I'm up there visiting! LOL
I'll defiantly keep everyone posted on what I get and how to disperse it out to you good folks =)

 

[Birdman666]

Yep, I'm in good old Cali. There is actually a "manzanita permit" I am going to get, which lets me legally go out and take as much as I want. I don't want to always be looking over my shoulder lol They are a huge fire hazzard up there so they don't mind at all, just want a record of who is doing what. Now it's just a matter of packing my little two door honda civic with large branches every time I'm up there visiting! LOL
I'll defiantly keep everyone posted on what I get and how to disperse it out to you good folks =)

That's how I got the wood for Sally's playstand. Fire hazard removal.

Free Manzanita?! Just come and get it?! SCORE!!!

 

[amjokai]

Oh man when we visit my I laws I'm getting a permit! Lol