Practical Bonsai Tuition!

The master at work

Wet tea towels, root brush and Vaseline(!)

How lucky am I?  Today, I have had the VERY best kind of help to repot an enormously heavy Acer in a very big pot.  It had been languishing in its present pot for several years before I was given it and that was 2 years ago.  I just KNEW it must be desperate. Somehow, Chris Genever managed to lift the whole shooting match of its stand and between us and after a struggle we were able to remove it from its pot with both tree and pot intact.  He them lifted the tree into a wheelbarrow and with the help of a special root combing tool and root pruners, much of the spent soil was removed and its roots trimmed.  

Water spray, root pruners and  trimmed excess roots

I was shown how to only comb outwards from the centre, how to even brush the soil from around the roots.  This is all pretty new to me but the REALLY useful thing is knowing that I can keep the tree in the same pot and not have to keep potting it on to  bigger, heavier and even more unmanageable pots over time.   The other fact to borne in mind is that this is the absolute perfect time of year to complete such an activity ie. just as the buds are swelling but before leaves emerge.

This was a a big undertaking and as lunch was overdue and to ensure the roots had no opportunity to dry out, they were sprayed with water and wrapped in wet tea towels before being parked in the shade whilst we grabbed a well earned sandwich. Root pruning then recommenced and as larger roots were cut, Vaseline was rubbed on the raw cut. Chris made a mix of part horticultural grit, ericaceous and J.I. No. 2 potting mediums with added bonemeal and ercicaeous slow release fertlilizer. Whilst still empty, the pot was then placed in position - no flies on us!!   A layer of gravel was placed in the base to ensure the roots are never waterlogged and the tree was carefully repotted with compost being gently firmed around all the roots ensuring no air gaps.  After a thorough watering, it was top dressed with a layer of horticultural grit to hold in moisture.  Hey presto!!  Job done!!

The really surprising thing was the huge volume of redundant roots and spent compost left in the wheelbarrow seemed 3 times bigger than the fresh potting materials used!  Anyway, it should be happy for a couple more years and I have gained much practical knowledge!

Introducing Rob in his Retreat!

It's getting on for nearly a year since 'Rob's Retreat' was constructed in the Wooodland Border and it was a tad too chilly to sup cider in it - even if he had had enough time which, he didn't.  But, here he is - at long last - our neighbour: Rob in his own retreat!  A big thank you to him for the materials and also for the expert pruning on our two apple trees (hic slurp!)  For those who may not know, I should perhaps say that Rob manages and cares for hundreds and hundreds of acres of cider apple orchards and is a real expert in his field (sorry, orchard!) Even more importantly, he is the world's best neighbour!

More Spring Delights

It's a dull, wet cold and miserable day out there and I took these photos a couple of days earlier! It just a telling reminder that things are really moving towards spring at a pace now!  I'm waiting for some vicious March winds and some slashing rain.  Why?  because that's what always happens as soon as we have any Prunus in blossom!!

Lifting the faces of Hellebores

There are times when I wish these grew up on a bank so we could see their faces.  Instead, these Hellebores spend their time hiding their faces and looking down down at the ground.  It's always such a lovely surprise when you lift up the flower heads and peep inside!  If only they lasted just a little time in water...sigh!

Greenhouse Shake - Up!

It was time for a move round in the greenhouse.  All these plants were taking up space on the staging and as the days are warming up, they don't need or like being in the hot glare of sunlight through glass. Even though our greenhouse is not heated and the heater just keeps it frost free, it can still get pretty warm in the full glare of the sun.  These Polyanthus and Pansies are now down on the floor where they can enjoy a little more shade before they are hardened off in the cold frame and planted outside. In the meantime, it's been fun having colour in the greenhouse all winter long and I'm still enjoying them where they are. Planting them up in all different containers and displaying them at various heights took no more than 5 minutes and just adds to their appeal.

Pretty Preservation!

Well I did say that we'd be busy creosoting the Pear Hut and repainting its frieze and 'Kay's Seat.' Here's the evidence.  It looks rather smarter in it's differing shades of brown  It will be entered in the this year's Shed of the Year Competition on the grounds that it is actually a 'shed' and can't be compared with many of the fabulous edifices against which it competes!  Furthermore, it was made entirely from reclaimed wood and the frieze was made from the off-cuts of ceiling and floor boards. The pears were cut out of Elm and disguise an old cat flap in the door.  The windows were an EBay purchase.  The hospital sign?  Well, it was one of those irresistible old signs that used to adorn our English roadsides.  It contains a writing desk, chair and bookcase and looks across the orchard to the pond and summerhouse.

More Winter Arrivals

Although not nearly was warm as predicted, we did have some weekend sunshine.  Consequently, more and more flowers are springing into life. Bees have been out and about searching for pollen - head over heels in some cases!  For more winter arrivals, see:  Winter Flower Story

Whilst enjoying the sunshine, the gardeners were busy doing rather more mundane jobs such as creosoting the tool shed and the Pear Hut and giving 'Kay's Seat' and the frieze around the top of the Pear Hut another coat of green paint.  After 2 coats, things are looking pretty smart once again.  We also moved a couple of shrubs and trees......which we meant to do back in the autumn!  Hopefully we were in the nick of time!