Page 45 - Ebook cây cảnh Art of Bonsai

Seasonal tasks 45

Fall Winter
Deciduous trees start to prepare for their winter A quieter time of year, but continue checking your
dormancy; many of them will go out in a trees regularly and enjoy their winter images.
spectacular blaze of color. Examine the framework of trees like zelkova and
plan ahead if structural work is needed.
∙Reduce watering as growth slows but remember
to adjust the regime to the needs of the plants. ∙Watering requirements are reduced but should not
∙Check wires on branches and remove any that be forgotten. Root activity starts at around 41°F
look too tight. This is particularly important for (5°C); do not overwater but respond to conditions.
pines because they often have a late spurt of ∙Protect roots from freezing. Keep your trees in
growth at this time of year. a greenhouse, bury the pot in the ground, or, in
∙Protect tender specimens from the first frost. milder climates, wrap pots in bubble plastic.
Also, make sure vulnerable trees such as air- ∙Larches can be wired while their branches are
layered specimens are in a sheltered place. bare, but do not as a rule manipulate other
∙Prune deciduous trees to shape just as the leaves deciduous trees—they are very brittle in winter.
are starting to fall and up to two weeks after. The ∙Make preparations for repotting in spring. If the
starches have been transported back into the tree weather is mild enough, you can get ahead.
for redistribution to the buds next year; cut back ∙If needed, spray with winter wash (one part lime
terminal buds before they receive their share. sulfur to twenty parts water) to kill dormant pests.
∙Clear away dead leaves. Good hygiene is very
important; rotting material is a breeding ground
for disease and can provide a snug place for
pests to burrow in for the winter.

Wash away algae so that the trunk does not become Help waterlogged pots to drain better by placing
discolored in the upcoming limited sunlight. them at an angle so water runs off the surface.