Tree Tips
SEPTEMBER 2025
One month to go 'til our show (October 4th). We’re going to need everyone's help this year, especially since both Jack and Juan will be out of town that weekend.
Getting our trees and accent plants ready is now an important priority. Clean up the pot, remove weeds and put fresh soil on the surface. If you have attractive moss, add that. Check and remove any dead or sick foliage from the tree. We want to have our trees as presentable as we can regardless of their stage of training. Juan Cruz will give you all the nuances at our first Thursday meeting, September 4th.
If you can, bring in the trees you hope to show this year to the first and third Thursday meetings. We can give you advice and help getting them ready.
For trees other than ones you are showing, September is truly a transitional time in bonsai where we can work on conifers and deciduous and broadleaf evergreens, and guide them from all-out growth and ramification to holding and directing the tree's energy for the big push next spring.
I will stop pruning back to two leaves in the middle of the month. After that I will allow the trees time to mature their foliage and build energy over the late fall and winter. In the meantime, continue cutting back and fertilizing, gradually lessen the amount of nitrogen through November. We’ll be trimming back the winter growth in December and January to the location where you want the ramification to start sprouting in spring. You can still wire to create movement this fall.
Conifers get most of our attention for styling and wiring in the fall and winter months. Wire to develop short incremental arcs rather than long wavy branches to create natural looking branches over time. Aim for different lengths, different angles and different directions.
For all of your trees, fall is still a good time to fertilize. The trees are storing energy in the vascular system to over-winter and start spring with a big bang.
If you haven’t already, take out your cell phone. Put in a new reminder for the same time and day each week. “Check Trees for Weeds and Needs.” Put alerts on so you won’t blow it off. I have mine on for Monday morning and the night before but you might want to do it on Saturday or Sunday. Weeding your trees the first time will take some time and be somewhat frustrating. Time it from start to finish. Use bent nose tweezers or chopsticks to loosen the weeds. The next week it will take very little time. Remember, if you don’t get all of the weed roots, weeds will pop up again and again, but if you persist, they will get weaker and weaker 'til they finally die. Removing new weeds when they’re small is easier than pulling them after they get established. This really works and will keep you engaged and alert to your tree's development. Also check for bugs, disease, branch damage, rotation and vigor of growth.
