DOT usually advises that you talk to the property owner(s) before taking anything that originates from private land.

Ok, I don't really want to break the law, although I don't think I will end up in jail over an iris bulb.

"DOT usually advises that you talk to the property owner(s) before taking anything that originates from private land."

The owner died 3 years ago. I'm not sure who owns it now, I haven't seen anyone outside or a car parked since the death of the owner. I also don't think they would care, since they don't even mow the grass.

" I also don't think they would care, since they don't even mow the grass."

You still need to have permission to do this.

I wouldn't worry too much about the ones outside the fence or the cutting from the tree in this situation.

Practically what are the odds you will be arrested taking cuttings from an abandoned property.

If I die my wife probably gets my home. Depending on the situation with payments and whatever my heirs may let it revert to the bank who can try to sue them or whatever.

So,

Its kinda like protesting levees or something. Sometimes it just must be done but if you block a highway while doing it and you get in trouble don't blame me. Anyways, it might be worth it lol.

It's just the matter of doing what's right.

In cases like this I always ask myself the question, if everyone did the same thing would it turn into a problem?

I guess it's each persons choice.

After my parents died their house sat empty for a while. The lawn was mowed, snow removed, but no one was there, as we all live out of state. Personally, I would not be happy to show up and see that someone had dug up plants and "trimmed" trees/ shrubs. You have no idea what the situation is, but someone - not you - owns that property. Probably wouldn't run into any legal issue but still. When they show up to mow, ask them about it!

Just do it, its such a mess, no one would even know! When my neighbors moved out, they had a messy forsythia hedge in their yard that drove me nuts, I went over, cut it way back, took all the cuttings, bundled them and put them out for collection. They figured the previous owner had done it for them.

Logan, how can you say that you don't want to break the law whilst at the same time admitting that you steal 'all the time' from commercial plantings. That's a very flexible view of right and wrong. You say you don't even know what the tree is, so how about getting an id and then seeing if you can find a legal source? As for the irises, just cross your fingers that a bit of rhizome gets knocked off by a passing pedestrian and you find it lying on the path.

Alternatively you could do some research, find the current owner and simply ask.

Tsk tsk tsk. Some people have an intuitive moral compass, others can be taught to do the right thing, and some simply don't get it.

In another recent post in a different forum, someone inquired about a cutting she had pinched from an extremely well-known botanical garden's display! I wonder what possible justification she might come up with if confronted?

Why are you asking? You know, someone will always say don't do it?

I would never advocate going in someone's yard to dig something up, but a rhizome or two creeping under the fence of an abandoned yard? Or a small cutting from a branch hanging over the fence? I don't think this is a morally horrible thing to do.

"Logan, how can you say that you don't want to break the law whilst at the same time admitting that you steal 'all the time' from commercial plantings. That's a very flexible view of right and wrong."

Not in the sense that you would think. Say for example, a crepe myrtle had some suckers growing from the base, and I liked that specific tree. If I take the suckers off, no one is going to complain. I don't just go around chopping them off of plants and damaging them without care.

If you were to enter private property and remove suckers growing from someone's Crape myrtle without permission, you could be arrested. You don't get to make the decision about other's property.

"If you were to enter private property and remove suckers growing from someone's Crape myrtle without permission, you could be arrested. You don't get to make the decision about other's property."

I was replying to floral's comment as I quoted in the post. You are trailing off topic, because what you are discussing is NOT the matter at hand. This stuff is just going to get chopped up by the city's lawnmowers that they use on the roadsides, or the DOT will spray it with herbicide.

What don't you get about the fact that this is someone else's property? KEEP OUT!! Please respect that.

If you wish to steal some plants, why are you asking for permission here?

-Babka

"If you were to enter private property and remove suckers growing from someone's Crape myrtle without permission, you could be arrested. The same applies to public property, Logan, whatever your view of the value of what you're taking.

Can you imagine if you were caught? I mean being a professional grower and all. Your local paper would have a field day with it, and your local television stations could pick up the story, because it would play so well. "Local grower caught stealing plants".

You would lose your reputation and probably a lot of business.

In the grand scheme of things, taking a cutting from over there is not a big deal at all, it's a victimless crime imo. However, it IS a crime and it's wrong.

What if you called up the property owner and offered to mow the grass in exchange for a cutting or two? That way you are helping someone and at the same time getting what you want.

And frankly, most gardening people are pretty giving (but I wouldn't appreciate theft). I was at a fairly prestigious nursery last Friday, and they were out of a plant that's very hard to find, but which they self-propagate. I talked to the owner and came away with unrooted cuttings (which are no issue, as the plant is pretty easy to root). I know he would prefer to sell the plant to me, but he also is nice and was sympathetic to the fact that it's 300 miles from my house and I can't come back this year.

Really, if you want to feel good about it (and safe), track down the owner with the local property office (court house?) and ask.

I bet you get a positive answer.

"I bet you get a positive answer"

And end up feeling a whole lot better about the situation. :-)

Ok, so it seems to be pretty split in opinion, but before I do anything, I will attempt to track down the owner.

"In the grand scheme of things, taking a cutting from over there is not a big deal at all, it's a victimless crime imo. However, it IS a crime and it's wrong."

Likely, if I cannot track down the owner, I will still take a cutting before it gets chopped up or sprayed by the DOT, but leave the irises. The tree is starting to bloom, and I will get some photos of it if I get a chance.