BONSAI WEST TIPS FOR JUNE AND JULY

Summer is here and we are right in the middle of our New England growing season.

I break the growing season up into thirds to make sure that I am on target for certain growing goals. My break down is April, May and June; July and August; and Sept and October.

This has been a beautiful growing season so far and with this cool weather our trees are still growing as fast as if its spring, in fact I still have a few azaleas blooming. But this also means that the trees are drinking water more than ever, and everyone should be on the alert not to let their trees dry out. I've gone so far as to take a wheelbarrow full of water around the nursery and dunked my pot-bound trees for several minutes each to get water deep into the roots. But as always, be sure not to overwater either (see the notes on cold-hardy trees further down in this article).

I love this time of year! Finally all our tropicals are vigorously growing and we are pruning them back hard - even defoliating many of them.
The advantage to heavy leaf pruning with tropicals this time of year is that they are growing so fast that they back bud almost immediately.
The leaves come in smaller and more compact and replace the older, often blemished leaves that increased in size because of being indoors all winter.
Remember: leaves increase in size when they are not getting enough light so with the intense summer sun trees create tiny leaves perfect for bonsai.

At Bonsai West, our chores consist mainly of repotting, pruning, and weeding time.
You should be fertilizing regularly now - we rotate between slow-release organics such as Green Dream and liquid such as Miracle Gro or Pokon.
We also spend a lot of time weeding this time of year.
Even though I like the look of some of the ground cover that has found its way into our bonsai pots, rememver that a clean pot will allow better watering and better all around care.

Now is the perfect time to repot all tropicals especially Brazilian Rain Trees and Black Olives.

Yet while tropicals are exploding with new growth, many of our cold hardy trees will begin to shut down for a while toward the end of this month.

I like to think of this as a mini dormant period for trees like Larch, Maple, Hornbeam and Pine.
Its important to move maples out of the direct sun, and to be careful not to overwater trees that seem to be drinking slowly.
I check my trees everyday for water however I only water when needed. And do skip over trees that are not drinking as much!
If you find that a couple of trees in your collection are not looking so great, may be a little weak or sick, it is very important to move them to another spot, a sick bay if you will, so you can monitor them separately.

Bonsai tips and chores for July:

• Pines need to be in full sun and candles need to be pinched keep a little on the dry side
• Old flower buds on azaleas should be removed including the little stem
• Bud pinch all junipers
• Repot and prune tropicals
• Move maples into semi shade
• Fertilize everything well
• Remove old wire before its too late
• Now is the time to separate healthy and weak trees—healthy trees are drinking daily weaker trees drink less often
• Shimpaku juniper tips need to be pruned back, also downward weak growth should be removed
• Elm trees should be pruned back hard

NEW ARRIVALS!

Our spring shipment of Tropical bonsai and stock plants is here and ready for you!
We have filled ”Dan’s” greenhouse (the greenhouse in the back) with hundreds of new  trees just in from Florida.
These trees include many one-of a-kind specimens: Brazilian Rain Trees, Portulacaria, Ficus, Texas Ebony, Cypress, Buttonwood, ArborIcola, Cherry, natal plum, Black Olives, Tropical Holly, and Jasmines.

Come on in and have first pick!

 

MAPLE CULTIVARS AND OTHER UNUSUAL SPECIMEN FOR BONSAI OR JAPANESE GARDENS

Over the years we have had many inquiries about supplying interesting plant material for your home gardens. This year we have started to offer a selection of Japanese Maples, uncommon maple species and a few choice Conifers. 

Here is a list of the Maples we have on hand - they are all one-of-a-kind!

Acer, japon 'Vitifolium'
Acer, nikoense
Acer, palma 'Aoyagi'
Acer, palma 'Beni shichihenge'
Acer, palma 'Emperor
Acer, palma 'Hogyoku'
Acer, palma 'Kurabu yama'
Acer, palma 'Orange Dream'
Acer, palma 'Red Pygmy'
Acer, palma 'Sherwood Flame'
Acer, palma 'Tobiosho'(Iseli)
Acer, palma 'Tsukushigata'
Acer, palma 'Tsuma gaki'
Acer, shira 'Palmatifolium'
Acer, triflorum

We also have a great selection of unusual Japanese White Pine cultivars. 
These trees would make a spectacular addition for a Japanese Garden.

Picea, glauc 'Jean's Dilly'®
Picea, polita
Pinus, bunge 'Rowe Arboretum'
Pinus, conto 'Spaan's Dwarf'
Pinus, mugo 'Moppet'(Iseli)
Pinus, parvi 'Bergmani'
Pinus, parvi 'Gin setsu'
Pinus, parvi 'Hagoromo'
Pinus, parvi 'Hagoromo'
Pinus, parvi 'Ibokan'
Pinus, parvi 'Ibokan'
Pinus, parvi 'Kokonoe'
Pinus, parvi 'Wy'east' (Iseli)
Pinus, pumil 'Jeddeloh'
Pinus, sylve 'Glauca Nana'
Pinus, sylve 'Nana Compressa'

We will also be offering a selection of rare Japanese Chrysanthemum this fall!!
We hope that you will consider Bonsai West for buying that centerpiece in your landscape.

100 Great Rd (2A/119)
Littleton, MA 01460
9 7 8 - 4 8 6 - 3 5 5 6

Summer Hours: Mon - Sat: 10 - 6; Sun: 10 - 5

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