Other places near Chiangmai Mai where you can buy mature trees

[Dean1953]

I’ve been to the market near Tesco many times and have bought trees, usually small, from them. I’ve also been to a location near the San Kamphaine hot springs, that sells mature trees for a lot less.   Since I don’t live at my house and rely on renters to make sure that my lawn sprinkler system is working, several trees died when my last renter wouldn’t let anyone on my property to do repairs to anything.  I’m spending 2 months (September 3-October 31) at my house to do repairs and get landscape ready for my permanent move back in 4 years.  This includes buying 5=7 trees and some plants.  I don’t know if that place near Hot Springs is still open, but if anyone can tell me if it is not not, I’d appreciate it.  Or, if anyone knows of another place in a 60 mile radius of the city that sells trees (and delivers and plants them), I’d appreciate that. 

[captainjackS]

ช้างทอง ต้นไม้ล้อม

081 881 1138

https://maps.app.goo.gl/mNDtdzb7TcyA72Ca6

 

I have never bought anything from here, but i pass by often and see they are active. looks promising.

Edited August 11, 2022 by captainjackS

[Dean1953]

Thanks. I’ll have my Thai neighbor call them to see what they have and prices

[cnx1204]

There many tree lots around Chiangmai selling mature trees.   There is one on Hwy 1001 north of the middle ring road intersection on the east side.  I have seen others but haven't paid attention.  

[drtreelove]

I haven't been out to the Mae On tree growers in recent years, but I'm due for a visit.  My wife is doing some real estate project management and we need to discover further resources for tree and landscape projects. I can keep an eye out for you. Do you have any favorites or ideas on what tree species you are looking for?

 

I recommend avoiding the larger trees from the roadside tree yards (like in the  two suggestions), there are some serious disadvantages in health and structural issues with these abused trees.  They are dug and handled and stored with extremely unprofessional standards, and this can result in long term problems. 

 

Its tempting to go for larger trees, thinking that you will get an instant effect, and yes there are successful cases.  But on the other hand, I have been called to assess many of these type of transplants that within 5 to 10 years have developed extensive root rot, wood decay and structural failures. Some species can take the abuse better than others, but some trees are prone to decay in the larger cut roots and limb structure.  The progression of decay can go on unseen until there is branch breakage or wind-throw toppling. 

 

I recommend starting with smaller trees, giving them good growing conditions, soil fertility and water management. In this way the root systems and branch structure can develop and establish more naturally, without the extreme physiological stress and structural defects that occur with digging and moving the larger trees. 

 

Trees grow fast here with good care. In four years (and a better irrigation management program for the dry season) you will see some significant growth by the time you move back. 

 

Its not just my idea, but I agree with this from my 50 years of professional tree care experience:

 "I've seen smaller trees outgrow their larger counter parts MANY times....trees planted at the same time, in the same general location, and the same species. Smaller is better, smarter."

 

"Studies have demonstrated that the size of transplanted trees has a measurable impact on establishment rates in the landscape. Larger trees require a longer period of time than smaller trees to produce a root system comparable in spatial distribution to similar sized non-transplanted trees. This lag in redevelopment of root system architecture results in reduced growth that increases with transplant size. Research has demonstrated that smaller transplanted trees become es- tablished more quickly and ultimately result in larger trees in the landscape in a few years"

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237555899_Infl_uence_of_Tree_Size_on_Transplant_Establishment_and_Growth

 

"The main problem is that people want instant trees ... By digging up and transplanting a relatively large tree, the tree is suffering severe injury and shock to its current and often future health from which many trees will never recover. For better survival and health trees should be planted at a smaller size than... There are several sound environmental, physiological and economic reasons for planting smaller sized plants. Smaller is a relative term so what do I mean by smaller? For most trees, heights that measure from 5ft to 8ft is a good size for planting. This size is easy to handle, responds quickly after transplanting, is affordable but is large enough to visually fill the planting space. When a small tree is planted more of the root system is retained with the plant and the root system is more in balance with the above ground portion of the tree. A good thing to remember is that any plant is only as good as its root system. A tree can only grow leaves and branches if the root system can supply the needed water and nutrients. The roots of a small plant quickly establish in the surrounding soil and can then support new growth of the leaves and branches. For this reason smaller trees often catch up to and surpass the growth of trees that were planted at a larger size. The growth of the tree will adjust to the soil and moisture conditions where it is permanently planted, not to where it was grown in the nursery."

http://www.whiteoaknursery.biz/essays/small.pdf

 

 

[drtreelove]

Magnolia champaka, 11 months growth with good organic program management. 

My aroma-therapy tree.  

[drtreelove]

The tree suppliers near San Kamphaeng Hot Springs that you may be referring to are located in Mae On district near Huai Bok lake, near the intersection of roads 1317 and 4042.  

You can get there from San Kamphaeng on 1317, or from 118 past Doi Saket town, right on 3005, sign for Mae On. 

 

The attached photos have some signs with phone numbers.  There are all sizes of trees and shrubs.  The bigger trees are all traumatized, stubbed back in the tops and dug with extremely small root balls. Let the buyer beware.  I didn't get prices. 

[DeaconJohn]

@drtreelove

   Thanks so much for your helpful and informative posts.

Our second daughter bought a small fruit farm in Saraphi a few years ago as an investment.

Originally part of the lumyai orchards out there, we have diversified it with numerous other types of fruit trees and flowering plants.

We recently had a Thai style farmhouse built out of used teak and are spending more and more time at what is becoming a little Garden of Eden.

   

[Dean1953]

Thanks Dr tree love.  I have no problem buying smaller trees. I won’t be moving back permanently to my house until the summer or fall of 2026, after my son graduates from high school.  I’d prefer to have mature trees by then in my yard.  Hopefully, I’ve got planting coconut trees out of my system.  I have a 50% rate of failure on them.  I’ll post pictures of my yard when I get there on 3 September.  I have no set plan for type of trees, so any suggestions would be helpful.  I do have a sprinkler system for the yard to take care of trees during the dry periods. My neighbor will check on it and knows how to set it.  I’ll be there for 2 months and will do what I can to help the trees along.  Thanks!

[drtreelove]

2 hours ago, Dean1953 said:

Thanks Dr tree love.  I have no problem buying smaller trees. I won’t be moving back permanently to my house until the summer or fall of 2026, after my son graduates from high school.  I’d prefer to have mature trees by then in my yard.  Hopefully, I’ve got planting coconut trees out of my system.  I have a 50% rate of failure on them.  I’ll post pictures of my yard when I get there on 3 September.  I have no set plan for type of trees, so any suggestions would be helpful.  I do have a sprinkler system for the yard to take care of trees during the dry periods. My neighbor will check on it and knows how to set it.  I’ll be there for 2 months and will do what I can to help the trees along.  Thanks!

I'm concerned and wondering why the failures with coconut palms.  I'm always puzzled when I hear something like that, It shouldn't be that way. I have a personal record of near 100% success with planting thousands of trees in landscapes and reforestation programs. Its all about appropriate species selection for the site, compatible plantings and irrigation, and growing condtions, good preparation, proper handling and planting technique, mulching and follow up with soil and water managment (not too much or too little). 

 

Local laborers tend to brutalize trees in the transporting and transplanting, and don't take responsibility for results. A lot of that is due to property owners looking for cheap plants and services.  In my early career I was a foreman of a tree moving crew and the company I worked for guaranteed transplant health and survival for a year with a maintenance contract, so we had to take our professionalism seriously. 

 

New transplants, no matter how well they are handled have undergone extreme physiological stress and can be very vulnerable to any water deficit/drought stress, and can be highly susceptible to plant pests and diseases. So extra attention to follow up management, frequent monitoring,  and early intervention for any problems is essential. 

 

Coconut palms need good water management while a new root system is established, and they can be attacked by coconut rhinoceros beetle and red palm weevil which are killer pests. 

[drtreelove]

20 hours ago, DeaconJohn said:

@drtreelove

   Thanks so much for your helpful and informative posts.

Our second daughter bought a small fruit farm in Saraphi a few years ago as an investment.

Originally part of the lumyai orchards out there, we have diversified it with numerous other types of fruit trees and flowering plants.

We recently had a Thai style farmhouse built out of used teak and are spending more and more time at what is becoming a little Garden of Eden.

   

Your Garden of Eden sounds nice. Saraphi climate and soil has some good qualities, and some of the best trees and gardens I've seen in CM.  To insure plant health, longevity and resistance to pests and diseases, consider going full route on progressive soil improvement in line with the incredible emerging science and practices being made known through the Regenerative Agriculture movement.  There is a revolution in ag and horticulture going on. (See Kiss The Ground, Soil Food Web School, Advancing Eco Agriculture and other resources. There is a Regenerative Agriculture discussion on the Farming In Thailand forum, which has a lot of links to YouTube videos and reading materials.) 

[freedomnow]

There was one near junction near Saraphi police station if you were going from junction towards train line....between junction and train line left side.

 

Obvious to ask peak size of tree and timescales of growth if buying smaller age ones..I didn't (total noob/idiot on what to buy for garden) and ours has outgrown neighbour ones same planting period by 3x in size in height/width.

 

Bit too near the house....oh dear, what did I do ?

Edited August 16, 2022 by freedomnow

[drtreelove]

22 hours ago, freedomnow said:

 

Obvious to ask peak size of tree and timescales of growth if buying smaller age ones..I didn't (total noob/idiot on what to buy for garden) and ours has outgrown neighbour ones same planting period by 3x in size in height/width.

 

Bit too near the house....oh dear, what did I do ?

That's a very good point, "Wrong Tree Wrong Place" is first on my list of common tree problems.  Many people make that mistake, even landscape architects/garden designers who should know better. 

https://www.fertileearthlandcare.com/top-ten-tree-problems/

[EricTh]

On 8/12/2022 at 1:12 PM, drtreelove said:

Magnolia champaka, 11 months growth with good organic program management. 

My aroma-therapy tree.  

What do you mean by aroma'therapy tree? How much did you pay for it?

 

I am thinking of buying a medium size tree that is easy to grow.

[drtreelove]

On 8/17/2022 at 11:50 AM, EricTh said:

What do you mean by aroma'therapy tree? How much did you pay for it?

 

I am thinking of buying a medium size tree that is easy to grow.

aroma therapy tree =  flower fragrance that is intoxicating and healing. 

 

Cost of small trees is minimal, 150 - 500 baht. Moving up in size to 2 - 3 meters height or so, with a 30cm root ball, something you can handle and plant yourself, maybe 1000 - 1500 baht. Larger than that 2000 and up for a nice specimen with delivery and planting included.

 

Other medium size flowering trees relatively easy to grow, consider

ton bpeep, Millingtonia hortensis, Indian cork tree,

ton ratchaphruek,  Cassia fistula, golden shower tree. 

 

 

 

[EricTh]

3 hours ago, drtreelove said:

aroma therapy tree =  flower fragrance that is intoxicating and healing. 

 

Cost of small trees is minimal, 150 - 500 baht. Moving up in size to 2 - 3 meters height or so, with a 30cm root ball, something you can handle and plant yourself, maybe 1000 - 1500 baht. Larger than that 2000 and up for a nice specimen with delivery and planting included.

 

Other medium size flowering trees relatively easy to grow, consider

ton bpeep, Millingtonia hortensis, Indian cork tree,

ton ratchaphruek,  Cassia fistula, golden shower tree. 

 

I usually buy a small plant and it cost me 80 baht so 150 baht is not expensive at all.

 

Golden shower tree looks nicer than the Indian cork tree, but does it emit a strong fragrance? Which of these three emits a nicer smell? Magnolia champaka, golden shower , Indian cork

 

Edited August 20, 2022 by EricTh

[DrPhibes]

Most of the massage places at the moment.  Oh! wait! you said trees, not bushes...

[drtreelove]

On 8/20/2022 at 10:27 AM, EricTh said:

I usually buy a small plant and it cost me 80 baht so 150 baht is not expensive at all.

 

Golden shower tree looks nicer than the Indian cork tree, but does it emit a strong fragrance? Which of these three emits a nicer smell? Magnolia champaka, golden shower , Indian cork

 

Stronger fragrance of the two is ton bpeep/Indian cork.  Ton ratchapruek/golden shower, (the national flower of Thailand) has a more subtle fragrance in my experience. 

Nicest fragrance? matter of opinion, and there are many more possibilities. And if you include shrub and vine forms, what about jasmine, gardenia, rose, rangoon creeper, and more. 

Strongest and most intoxicating fragrance, how about laylavadee, fragipani. I like Plumeria obtusa, the evergreen species with very sweet fragrant white flowers and oblong rounded leaves. 

 

Fragrance will be influenced by soil quality. Good growing conditions, soil fertility and water management allows plants to reach their genetic potential, and positively affects frangrance, as well as other qualities. 

[Dean1953]

Sorry for the delay in replying.  I got here September 3 and decided last Thursday to go to the tree market neat San Kamphaine hot springs.  I bought 4 coconut trees to go near the driveway gate and 1 apple tree originating in Taiwan.  I'm not renting my house out anymore because the damage by rwnter's dogs was greater than was described to me over the phone.  Because of the wet weather over the last 10 days, the grass height is between my knees and stomach after 1 month since the last cutting. Because of cost and the chance of someone ruining it while I'm in the U.S., I won't be buying a riding lawn mower this trip. My thai neighbor wants to rebuild my 2005 husqvarna and I gave him my blessing.  He will cut my grass sometime in the next 4 to 5 days, with a metel bladed week wacker.  Then, the guy that put in my sprinkler system will send over a couple of Thai laborers to dig out the wild grass that took over my landscape after the neighbor used chemicals to kill the old grass.  Since i won't be moving back permanently for 4 years, i won't have the yard sodded till then. I hope that whatever grows will be managable till I move back.  In the meantime, I'm still looking by motorcycle for local crews to cut the grass for less than the 3,000 baht that my neighbor charges.  

The only other thing going on now, besides moving my furniture out of my car park, cleaning it after 10 years of storage and putting it in house, is concrete work being done.  There are various spots on my wall that need to be re enforced with double blocks and rebar between the columns. He will then move to some concrete steps outside, going to the 2nd floir, that have developed one large crack and several small cracks. Finally, i have a concrete sidewalk on 3 sides of the house.  They have lots of cracks which, he says, occured because the original concrete pour was too thin.  He will at least double the thickness. I want to take care of any major expenses now while I'm still working in the U.S.  when i move back, I'll be on a fixed income.