If you have a very small garden, balcony or backyard, an outdoor bonsai collection, is a great new hobby to try, and the bonsai trees can look beautiful when they are older.
Firstly, what exactly are bonsai trees? These are simply any tree that is grown in a pot, which restricts it usual growth and makes the tree become like a miniature version of a tree grown in the ground. They are not special dwarf varieties, it all comes down to the amount of space the roots have. So, if you plant an English Oak in a pot, it will mature over time, but with limited root space, it might end up being just 50 cm tall.
Why outdoor bonsai trees? Many people who try bonsai for the first time start with an indoor bonsai tree that would not survive British winters. Sometimes these don't last long as people don't water them enough and they dry out. Outdoor bonsai trees are trees that can survive outdoors throughout the year. So, this includes all native trees such as Oak, Yew, Ash etc and any international tree that can be grown in British gardens, such as Japanese Maples and Redwoods.
What will I need? You don't need a special bonsai pot to begin with, just a standard plant pot, with drainage holes and some compost. In a few years time you can then invest in an attractive bonsai pot, once the tree is more established. At some point you can start shaping the tree. For this you will need some bonsai wire and scissors. There is plenty of advice articles and videos online to help you.
Where should I put my bonsai trees? An ideal location is somewhere outdoors that is exposed to rainfall, so they can benefit from extra water. The biggest risk is the tree drying out. Plants in containers require more water than plants in the ground. However, if the only place you have is covered, eg. a balcony with a roof, you can still grow bonsai, but you will just have to water them more. A partial shade location is perfect, so they get a bit of sun, but don't sit in blazing hot summer sun all day, that will dry the pot soil fast.
Gardenis sells tree seedlings that are ideal bonsai plant material, to get your new hobby underway, at an affordable price. Currently, a new batch of Scots Pines are available. This is a very hardy tree, and one of Britain's three native conifers. It is a very attractive tree and makes fantastic bonsai trees. Available in the plant section.
Start your outdoor bonsai collection this week
If you have a very small garden, balcony or backyard, an outdoor bonsai collection, is a great new hobby to try, and the bonsai trees can look beautiful when they are older.
Firstly, what exactly are bonsai trees? These are simply any tree that is grown in a pot, which restricts it usual growth and makes the tree become like a miniature version of a tree grown in the ground. They are not special dwarf varieties, it all comes down to the amount of space the roots have. So, if you plant an English Oak in a pot, it will mature over time, but with limited root space, it might end up being just 50 cm tall.
Why outdoor bonsai trees? Many people who try bonsai for the first time start with an indoor bonsai tree that would not survive British winters. Sometimes these don't last long as people don't water them enough and they dry out. Outdoor bonsai trees are trees that can survive outdoors throughout the year. So, this includes all native trees such as Oak, Yew, Ash etc and any international tree that can be grown in British gardens, such as Japanese Maples and Redwoods.
What will I need? You don't need a special bonsai pot to begin with, just a standard plant pot, with drainage holes and some compost. In a few years time you can then invest in an attractive bonsai pot, once the tree is more established. At some point you can start shaping the tree. For this you will need some bonsai wire and scissors. There is plenty of advice articles and videos online to help you.
Where should I put my bonsai trees? An ideal location is somewhere outdoors that is exposed to rainfall, so they can benefit from extra water. The biggest risk is the tree drying out. Plants in containers require more water than plants in the ground. However, if the only place you have is covered, eg. a balcony with a roof, you can still grow bonsai, but you will just have to water them more. A partial shade location is perfect, so they get a bit of sun, but don't sit in blazing hot summer sun all day, that will dry the pot soil fast.
Gardenis sells tree seedlings that are ideal bonsai plant material, to get your new hobby underway, at an affordable price. Currently, a new batch of Scots Pines are available. This is a very hardy tree, and one of Britain's three native conifers. It is a very attractive tree and makes fantastic bonsai trees. Available in the plant section.