fall is here

[dick benbow]

and it's time to begin removing wires on your pines. This is the time of year after budset that all the remaining energy goes into swelling the limbs and causing wires to Bite in. now is also the time to place maples and other leafed trees from partial shade to full sun for production of fall colors (red,yellow,orange)

[Robert]

Just removed my wires a couple days ago. Just about all the branches set in place Had a couple that bit into the limbs slightly but nothing that won't swell out it time.

I love fall, my favorite time of year, but is a little sad, as winter is next and the older I get the more I hate winter

Robert

[powerman]

i will take the wires off mine then.........thanks

[Meg]

Dick I am in north FL, when should I move my maple to full sun?
now or when it cools a little more? does it have to do with temps or angle of the sun?

[dick benbow]

it has to do with the angle of the sun. Great question, will help others to understand.

For those in northern climates, bonsai that drop thier leaves need to have thier roots protected from long hard deep freeze. Since they have no leaves, they don't have to be exposed to the sun as say a pine or evergreen subject would have to be.

I agree with the less i like winter philosophy....must have to do with the aging process!

[tdmeckle]

Thanks for the reminder, I had some bite in last year

[Robert]

Hey Dick,

I rewire my pines in early winter depending on where I'm at with their styling. Have other trees that wire only in winter.

Was wondering if you wire pines in winter, or have other trees that prefer winter wiring? Would love to hear your thoughts,and practices on this. I just started working with pines the last 2-3 years and think they are becoming one of my favorite trees as I continue learning the techniques of working them.

Thanks, Robert

[Meg]

ok,moved mine into the sun as asked and it's leaves are now brown edged. just looks like it is having a rough time of it all. It looked like that when I first re potted it this spring(gently moved it from the black garden center pot to a nicer pot just a little bigger this spring, knew not to do much more till it was dormant this fall)

[dick benbow]

Most deciduous trees are best wired and worked on while dormant, so your instincts are good. There are some who "poo-Poo" the use of the product Thrive which has vitamin B for stress and other minerals. When I see something with my trees that shows stress, I'll water with the product according to directions and mist the leaves or needles with a spray bottle.

[jjspond]

I need to dig in my bonsai azaleas today, then I wrap & cover them with harvest blanket. That has worked well for me. Azaleas are all I do (5)... oh, except I have a Russian Olive... that I leave in place. I was hoping it would bloom... but it has been 10 years, and nothing.

Almost lost 2 of my azaleas to the heat this summer... as I didn't have my drip sprinklers coming on often enough. Lost all their leaves, but I just waited. Trimmed them off after they started spouting again. I suspect they'll come back full and nicer next year, as plants often seem to do after minor neglect. Obvious not a super serious bonsai person... only so much time... someday maybe.

Love looking at all your pictures here.