During November spring growth will continue, and one must be mindful of keeping vigorous trees trimmed to encourage short internodes and an improved design. Fast growing trees can be trimmed back to two leaves per branchlet, whilst less vigorous to four leaves. Australian natives can be pruned relatively hard after flowering. Because of the cool […]
It was a real treat for me to attend Bonsai by the Harbour this June, not only because it was the first time I’d ever been able to attend this event, but also because our previously wet and cold winter managed to turn on a perfect, sunny day for the Saturday I was there. The
October is still a good time to repot many evergreens, such as olives, pyracantha and buxus. Chinese elms can be repotted almost any time of the year, so now is also a good time for working on them. The other main activity most suitable during spring is pruning and styling, as many trees will be
Evan is a member of the Nepean Bonsai Society, the National Bonsai Group, a teacher at the School of Bonsai and an accredited AABC tutor. Since joining NBS, He has been mentored BY John Marsh and become recognised as an up-coming bonsai artist. Evan studied in Japan with Koji Hiramatsu for three months in 2015
It has been a slow start to spring, with frequent rain (not unusual this year) and cooler temperatures. However, be mindful that watering should now be done daily, unless rain occurs. Check after a downpour that the soil is moist and the rain has penetrated the soil, as showers combined with wind may mean that
Don’t we all have pots like this or am I just weird? One of the downsides (?) of being a bonsai enthusiast is the tendency to collect pots for which you have no tree, not now, often never. This translates to a pot collection greater than the number of trees you have. Still, you won’t
The most commonly asked question that I get asked everywhere I go is how to grow azaleas. Here is a repeat (a revised edition) of the things that I do, with success, on how to grow and get these beautiful shrubs to flower and keep alive. I keep hearing, ‘I had an azalea but it
What a fantastic demonstration from Brenda Parker last month. An expert on azaleas, Brenda explained everything one needs to know, from history to care to surprising facts, about this beautiful flowering species. Did you know that all parts of the azalea is poisonous? Kindly Brenda has allowed us to publish her excellent and detailed article
Joe Margan-Payler: Nichigo Bonsai
Well know as national demonstrator, Joe Margan-Payler brings a deep knowledge of bonsai and great creativity to all he does.
During August, we have finally had a break from what has seemed like constantly wet or cloudy weather. Your deciduous trees will be coming in to leaf (if they haven’t already) and you should have enjoyed some blossoms from such plants as prunus, crabapples and flowering quince. Hopefully by now, you will have completed (or
