September Care

September - Things To Do 

& Plans To Make

Lee Vanderpool

Maples and sweetgum tend to get leaf burn in the scorching sun and drying winds of July and August.  Fortunately, we have had a lot of rain which helped those tender trees to resist the dessication of hot weather. Wisteria should have been pruned hard in August to encourage new growth which will be hardened off before the advent of cold winter weather and which will produce blooms next spring. Maples and other deciduous trees should have been defoliated to encourage twigging (ramification). By judicious trimming of new growth and defoliation, you can trick your trees into doing two years of growth in one season. With the advent of fall, you should expect a short burst of new growth from your trees before they begin to shut down for the winter. This burst of growth is necessary to allow the tree to store sufficient food in its trunk and roots to take it through the winter and to push out the first new leaves next spring. Begin routine fertilizing with medium high nitrogen fertilizer to help the tree get those new leaves out and hardened off before it has to shed them in preparation for winter. Along with this last burst of new growth comes rapid expansion of branches and trunks so be sure all wire is removed to avoid wire marks on bark. Now is the time to begin to consider winter storage of your tender and tropical bonsai. A sheltered porch or greenhouse should be available for those cold nights which can be the bane of temperature sensitive trees. Move these trees to shelter gradually over a period to prevent leaf drop due to lack of light. Have a good fall. 

© Fort Walton Beach Bonsai Society (FWBBS) ELF 2020