A bonsai is much more than a miniature version of large plants. A garden bonsai dominates its location and is not just a decorative accessory. The different bonsai plants are individual and have an interesting and often picturesque growth habit. Set Far Eastern accents in your own garden and become part of a centuries-old tradition. The only thing you need for bonsai care is knowledge about caring for the plants, patience and a practiced eye for aesthetics.
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Design your own garden bonsai
Never equate garden bonsai with other plants. Because the plants grown for bonsai are unique in their shape and give your garden a personal and dreamy touch. If you don’t underestimate the maintenance effort of the garden bonsai, you can design it yourself and don’t have to resort to specimens from the garden and specialist trade. Native trees and shrubs are particularly recommended for outdoor cultivation in our latitudes. Choose a 1 to 2-year-old plant that already catches your eye in its “raw state” with its growth and shape. Just make sure that you can offer the plants the right location and the right soil. The following types of plants are particularly suitable and resistant to cutting:
- Wachholder
- Eiben
- box trees
- Pine trees
- holly
- deciduous trees
- Liguster
You can also use Japanese hardwoods such as red maple . These plants are also considered hardy and survive the cold season in our latitudes unscathed.
The first step towards your own garden bonsai begins with the radical removal of all superfluous side shoots and branches that do not match the artistic appearance. Thin out the plant and tie the remaining branches into the desired shape with wire. After about 3 to 4 years, this measure is dropped and the branches remain in the “educated” position.
location and soil conditions
Choose a sunny to bright, partially shaded place for cultivating the garden bonsai. Growth suffers in the dark shade, the plants often tend to stunted or weak shoots. Plants planted directly in the field react sensitively to a change of location. A garden bonsai needs several months to get used to the new substrate and the new place. Avoid pruning and adding fertilizer during this time.
The consistency and composition of the substrate depends primarily on the selected plant variety. Conifers need alkaline soil, so enrich the soil with sand and peat additives in heavy, humus-rich soil. Other plants prefer a permeable, humus-rich soil in order to be able to develop optimally.
fertilizing and watering
The plants grown for garden bonsai require more care than other plants cultivated in the garden, but they are extremely frugal when it comes to the supply of fertilizer. In early spring and late summer, mulching the soil around the plant and mixing in large amounts of compost is sufficient.
Water regularly with rainwater, the root ball of evergreen plants must not dry out even in winter. Many plants do not tolerate the addition of lime, which is why you should use rainwater. Watering is done early in the morning or in the evening, which prevents the valuable liquid from evaporating too quickly. The soil is loosened with pebbles during planting to protect the roots from waterlogging and to counteract soil compaction.
To cut
You regulate the height of the bonsai by cutting back shoots and roots. At the same time, you give the garden bonsai its unique shape. The pillow- or ball-shaped branch ends are characteristic of Far Eastern plant art. In order to achieve this, the fresh shoot tips must be broken off or cut regularly. This measure usually takes place from the beginning of May to the end of June, but only remove a maximum of 2/3 of the new growth. If this time is missed, the next pruning of the branches can take place between October and March. However, pay attention to the “eyes” of the shoots and do not remove too much, so that the plant has enough buds for budding in the coming spring. You can also eliminate rampant or diseased side shoots all year round.
Whether your garden bonsai has a tiered or spherical shape depends on the selected plant species. With single-trunk trees, you can easily achieve a plate-shaped appearance of the side branches. However, when training this form, make sure you start building from the bottom. The lower, strong branches are broader and more expansive, the rest slowly tapers towards the top. For young plants, tie the branches in a horizontal position. This not only brings structure into the growth habit, but also stabilizes the plant against possible windthrow.
If you prefer the spherical shape of bonsai, you should use multi-stem trees for it. Yews, boxwoods and privets, for example, are well suited. In this form, the branches rise upwards, but the spherical ends should gradually decrease in size going from the bottom to the top. In this way you achieve a harmonious overall picture of the garden bonsai.
planting
Garden bonsai are planted just like other plants. You can choose to put the wood grown according to Far Eastern culture directly outdoors or in a bucket. Both variants have advantages and disadvantages that should not be ignored. The best time for planting is during the vegetation break, which roughly extends from October to March. Bonsai is at its best when it dominates its location. Set accents with water and thus bring two different elements into harmony. This not only corresponds to the Japanese philosophy, but also has a calming effect on body and mind.
Cultivation in the field
Bonsai plants are by no means just miniature plants. The shrubs cut into shape can easily reach a height of 2 to 3 meters, depending on which height you personally prefer. Plan enough space so that the garden bonsai not only has enough space to develop, but also so that it comes into its own in its full aesthetic and unique splendor.
Dig a hole twice the width and depth of the plant’s root ball. Humus and pebbles are added to the excavated earth. If the wood needs an acidic pH value of the soil, you should also mix peat under the substrate. A layer of compost directly in the planting hole is also well accepted. Water this extensively before using the plant. The root network of the plant is not completely sunk into the ground, but protrudes a few centimeters from the ground. Fill back with the prepared substrate and press down well. The last step is to water the plant firmly.
tub planting
If you have a sufficiently large planter, there is nothing wrong with cultivating the garden bonsai in it. Lay drainage at the bottom of the pot to speed up the drainage of excess water. Cover the root ball with humus-rich garden soil and water it sufficiently. Plants in tubs can develop freely anywhere, provided the location is suitable. So you can enjoy the splendor of your garden bonsai, for example, on the terrace or from your patio.
Provide the plant with nutrients regularly, conventional liquid or slow-release fertilizer is well suited for this. The roots depend on the moisture in the substrate, so water them regularly in summer. Before the cold season, wrap the bucket in sackcloth, no further measures are necessary for winter storage.
repot
If you have decided to cultivate the bonsai in a pot, you should provide the plant with fresh soil every 2 to 3 years. The ornamental wood is not put into a larger bucket, but the root tips are cut back by a few centimetres. At the same time, completely replace the old substrate with new, humus-rich soil. You should do this work in early summer so that the bonsai has enough time to close the interfaces until winter. Disease and frost damage could otherwise result.
diseases and pests
Outdoor bonsai can harbor the same fungal pathogens and harmful insects as other garden plants. Regardless of the plant variety chosen, aphids and root rot are common in a garden bonsai if not cared for properly. In the event of an infestation, take effective countermeasures in good time so as not to damage the appearance and health of the wood.
root rot
Fungal pathogens of the genus “Phytophthora” prefer to attack roots weakened by waterlogging. Therefore, water regularly with small amounts of water and put a layer of potsherds or lava chippings on the bottom of the pot for potted plants. This will prevent standing liquid from forming directly at the roots. In addition to the increasing dying of leaves and shoots, another indication of the disease is an intense, putrid smell, which penetrates directly from the substrate. Root rot cannot be treated with home remedies or fungicides. If the root system is still intact, you can transfer the affected plant to fresh, dry soil. With a bit of luck, the plant will recover.
aphids
These insects, which are only a few millimeters in size, are not very demanding when it comes to choosing their host plants. The uninvited guests cause discoloration of the shoot tips and leaves by consuming cell sap, and as the population increases, the affected regions die off. Aphids rarely come alone, as the sweet honeydew they produce is a welcome snack for ants. These also defend the pests against their predators, such as ladybirds and lacewing larvae. You can easily fight aphids with common household remedies. The most successful measures include:
- Spray broth from nettles or field horsetails.
- Stick the garlic cloves into the substrate.
- Wash shoots with vinegar water.
Bonsai plants recover relatively quickly from the damage caused after the insects have been removed. Regular watering and spraying of the woody plants with field horsetail broth is considered a prevention against aphids and the like. If you cannot contain the plague, you can use chemical insecticides from specialist shops.
Conclusion
The fascination of an ancient Far Eastern tradition has long since found many followers in our home latitudes. Garden bonsai bring aesthetics and form into every garden and are much more than just ornamental trees grown with care and love. If you don’t want to use plants from specialist shops, with a little patience and attention you can create your own bonsai plants yourself.
