Autumn Jobs
Dennis McDermot Bsc Presents: Autumn Bonsai Care Tips.
Figs Care: Tip Pruning and Aerial Root Management
Maintain tip pruning of the Figs. If you dislike aerial roots which can quickly form in the moist conditions of autumn then don’t hesitate to remove them.
Early Autumn Signals: Understanding Tree Vigour and Potting Needs
If we see any early autumn colour on our trees. It is because the plant has run out of vigor for the season. Trees that are pot bound or even trees that missed re potting the previous season will have a shorter growing season. Going into early autumn colour won’t do the tree any harm but you have definitely had a reduced development period on that particular tree for the season.
Stunning Autumn Colours: Trees to Consider for Your Collection
Trees with autumn colour can make some truly stunning images. If you don’t have a lot of trees that produce Autumn colour then you might want to consider adding some of the following to your collection. Maples, Liquidambars, Miniature Virginia Creeper, American Hornbeam, Pin Oak, Pear, Chinese Tallow, Chinese Pistachio, Nyssa, Chinese Quince, Zelkova, Gingko and many more!
March and April Repotting: Species Considerations and Timing
The milder months of March and April provides us with an opportunity to do some re potting. Plants under consideration are Australian Natives, Conifers and other general evergreen plants. Tropical evergreen plants such as Figs, Murrayas, Gardenias etc. should be re-potted during the warmer months. Re potting of Pyracanthas and Cotoneasters is best left until after their berries have past their peak in late April. Another option is just to wait till late August/early September.
Autumn Fertilising: Importance for Tree Health and Vigour
It is very important to really maintain your fertilising of your plants throughout autumn. Plants are looking to store plenty of energy at this point of time and you can assist them with this by giving them regular nutrient uptake. Elms which commonly have some die back coming out of the winter can have that reduced if they don’t go into winter under nourished.
Pomegranate Care: Fruit Management and Energy Conservation
Pomegranates have been in flower and will be producing the very attractive fruit soon. Keep an eye on fruit that develops on small or weak branches as the fruit could weigh the branches down to a point where it will snap off. If any of your fruit bearing trees produce excessive amounts of fruit it may be an idea to thin out some of it so it doesn’t take too much energy out of the tree. And it’s a good idea to remove all the fruit on the plant after it has passed its peak.
Deciduous Forest Preparation: Selecting and Preparing Specimens
If you are looking at putting some deciduous trees into a forest, autumn is an ideal time to select your specimens. A lot of deciduous trees we use for forest plantings such as Maples, Liquidambars etc. are seed grown, thus you will get seedling variations. One variation you will always get in deciduous trees is the type amount of colour of foliage each tree produces in autumn. So hunt around for the look you want and have them ready for planting in winter.
Preparing for Spring: Importance of Autumn Preparations
Spring and the growth and development it brings can seem quite a distance away at present but the preparations for the best possible results for then in fact start now and over the next few months. We definitely want trees going into dormancy as healthy as possible. So definitely maintain your fertilising programs right up until autumn.
Regular Repotting: Maintaining Plant Vigour and Development
Regular re potting is also a huge factor in maintaining the vigor in plants. Your faster growing plants should be re potted on an annual basis. Trees that you are looking for rapid development should be getting potted up into the appropriate pots that will aid your aim for them. Black plastic pots, Mica pots or deep ceramic pots will certainly provide the root systems of those trees with plenty of volume to make a huge impact with the possible rate of growth of your tree. Ideally the shallow ceramic pots should only be utilised for Bonsai that are in refining stages, certainly not development stages.
Pest and Disease Control: Immediate Attention and Eradication
Do not forget to take care of the perceived smaller issues with your Bonsai at present. Tend to pest and disease as soon as first sighted. Aphids can be in abundance and will be seen appearing on the tips of new growth on quite a variety of trees, sucking on the sap and weakening the new growth. Although not life threatening to your Bonsai they are detrimental to your trees development and should and can be quickly eradicated with Confidor.
Conifer Maintenance: Browning Needle Removal and Light Optimization
Remove any browning off of needles in dense areas of conifers such as Junipers and. Apart from giving your tree a more tidy appearance and reducing possible havens for pests. It will let in more light for lower branches and allow possible back shooting to occur.
Sunlight Challenges: Adapting to Reduced Light in Late Autumn/Winter
If getting enough water to your Bonsai is the main challenge in summer then I’m sure some of you will also agree that getting adequate sun light to your Bonsai in late autumn/winter is the other seasonal challenge. Everyone’s situation is different. But normally in everyone’s backyard there is always at least one area where the Sunlight is extremely poor in winter. Conifers in particular will badly suffer in these types of situations and must be moved to areas where you can give them the most sun possible. Figs and trees already deciduous on the other hand can be low light tolerant and could be a suitable substitution if space is scarce.
Watering Considerations: Balancing Moisture Levels in Autumn
Also reduce your watering as required to ensure that the trees do not remain too wet! If the potting mix is staying constantly wet and not slightly drying out in between the periods that you water they will be prime candidates for rotting root systems and all sorts of fungal problems. The golden rule in Bonsai is to observe each tree as an individual and not generalise. Autumn and winter will be your real test of your soil mix. If it remains too wet despite careful watering it will need to be altered, perhaps with additional river sand added to assist drainage.
End of Season Cleanup: Preventing Pests and Disease Infestation
Towards the end of May/early June most leaves on your deciduous trees would have fallen and accumulated around the base of your pots. If left in this state through Winter the piles will become a compact haven for pests and disease, which can infest your trees in the upcoming Spring. It is an opportunity during this time to do a good clean up in general. Benches can be brushed, scrubbed and even sterilised with a diluted solution of Dettol. The outsides of pots can be washed and wiped of soil, algae etc. that may have settled during the season. The feet of pots which usually attract green algae can also be scrubbed off to maintain optimum appearance. Spent fruit on Pyracantha and Cotoneaster’s can be removed, as well as any old disfigured leaves. Not only on these species of plants but most other Evergreen trees.
Frost Protection: Preparing Frost-Prone Plants for Winter
If you are in an area where you could possibly get frosts you should start to make preparations to protect frost prone plants such as Figs. Place them where they can get some protection.
Finally keep an eye out on flyers for various Seminars that pop up in Winter. There is always something new you can learn and always an opportunity to get a problem you may have with one of your trees solved. Seminars are for ALL Bonsai enthusiasts no matter what level your knowledge or skills are. It is also a great opportunity to get to know other Bonsai enthusiasts from other Clubs and share experiences and ideas.