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Articles Fred's Tips Preparing Bonsai for the Winter
Articles Fred's Tips Preparing Bonsai for the Winter | Preparing Bonsai for the Winter |
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| Written by Fred Nowak | |
| Tuesday, 06 November 2007 | |
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When I saw the dogwoods turning to such a beautiful color, I knew it was time to get ready for the cold days ahead. I didn't get totally ready but I took my bonsai area
 ( 2nd photo) which is surrounded by benches and lattice work and placed PVC pipe in the ground (photo 3)so that I could then take my 3/4 inch piping and form a greenhouse-like cold frame. I have six loops (photo 4)to support the above ground cold frame and when it gets colder, I will cover it with white plastic that comes all the way to the ground and is held in place. The front of the cold-frame usually stays open night and day but when it is going to be unusually cold at night (mid-twenties), I close the front to retain  the warmth from the ground. It has worked well for me over the years.
That also means that winter rains can't get to the trees. That is good and bad. It is good in that it prevents any over watering from constant rains but it also means that I will be hand- watering in the winter. I made a sad mistake last winter by over-watering and lost some prime trees. Do check your growing medium before you water to make sure
 the tree really does need water. Dale uses a moisture meter. Others just dig their fingers into the potting medium and look and feel the potting mixture. I did neither last year and it cost me plants.
How do you protect your trees? With the milder winters we have had, some have left their trees on the display benches, others put them on the ground (problem with insects??), others have either heated or unheated greenhouses.
 Those who put them on the ground may cover the pots (with roots of course) with either mulch or leaves to protect the root systems. There are a number of ways that work depending on the kind of weather. Tonight , the temps are supposed to get down into the middle thirties. Depending on where you live, the temps could be lower or possibly higher. If you expect a frost (I do in our yard), are you going to do anything to help protect some of the tender growth that has reappeared after the summer heat? I am considering it.
I have continued to feed my trees some fertilizer that has phosphorus for the roots (fish emulsion) but have avoided any more fertilization with nitrogen containing products. Do not want to encourage top growth only to have the tender growth killed by cold, frost or freezing weather.
By the way, the material I sent to you before this concerning fall and winter care comes from The book called "Bonsai Basics" by Christian Pessey and Remy Samson.
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 17 March 2008 ) |
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