Fall Work

We are rapidly approaching the season for preparing our trees for the winter. There is actually a great deal to accomplish, especially if we wish to show our trees in January. The first area of concern is the foliage. For Japanese black pines, we will remove all of last year's needles except on weak branches. This should be done at the end of October. With a straight pair of tweezers, grasp each pair of needles and pull in the direction of the needle's growth. Pulling backward can damage the bark. Make sure you remove the needle fascicles, this will make the tree neater and will remove some of the habitat for spider mites. On strong branches, some of this year's needles may be removed at this time, to help balance the strength of the tree. If your tree is weak, however, leave all the needles on to strengthen it.

For white pines, remove the old needles by cutting them at their base. Leave the fascicle , there is a bud in each one of them and some will be useful later on. Because we cannot achieve a second budding with white pines like we can with black pines, these buds are especially important.

For our deciduous trees, we will remove the old leaves after we have enjoyed the autumn colors, but before they fall. Pull leaves forward on maples, but on beech and stewartia, pull backwards to avoid damaging new buds. Light pruning can be done now on deciduous trees, and since it is now easier to see the structure of the tree, we can now wire. Of course newly wired trees should get extra protection from the cold. It is also important to wire after we have removed the leaves, but not after they drop off on their own. A fully dormant deciduous tree can bleed excessively if a branch is cracked.

Soji

Once the foliage is cleaned up, we must remove the top layer of soil and replace it with fresh. This is called soji. Soji simply means "clean up," and can refer to any cleaning project, not just bonsai.  As organic fertilizer breaks down, it clogs the top layer of the soil. This is where your angled tweezers will come in handy. Use them to scrape away about one inch of soil away from the roots. Always move directly away from the trunk. When this is done, trim any roots that are too close to the surface of the soil.  Replace the soil and tamp with a trowel. This simple chore will give you several benefits. You will be more aware of the tree's condition, you will improve the soil's aeration and water penetration, and your collection will be more attractive.

Winter care

In the Kansas City area, some protection from the weather is necessary. An unheated greenhouse or hoop house works well. One local enthusiast made a simple frame out of PVC pipe that he assembles in fall, and places all his trees under it. The whole thing is then covered with translucent sheet plastic. It's simple and easy, and his trees get a little head start in the spring.

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