Re: [IBC] Yard setup???

Nic:  Obviously you will want your bonsai area paved to make it
wheelchair accessible.  Make sure that the paving has sufficient slope
and drainage. You will want your stands or benches to be at a lower than
standard height.  You don't have to please the average visitor; you need
to make it pleasing and comfortable for you.

One feature I had built adjacent to my display area is a couple of
raised growing beds.  Mine were made by constructing a slab base, then
building up about three courses of cinder blocks.  I filled them with
hadite as a well draining growing medium, but you could use whatever you
can find in NZ.  I suspect that

volcanic pumice granules should be easy to find.  Make sure that whoever
builds your growing beds leaves some weep holes between the bottom layer
blocks to allow for sufficient drainage.

I used heavy duty, zinc coated expanded metal lath for my bench surface.
It holds the weight just fine, is very durable, and allows great air
circulation.  This last feature cuts down on growth of mold and places
to harbor unwanted critters.

Most of my better bonsai, however, are placed on "monkey poles". These
are pedestals which are constructed by planting landscape timbers of
appropriate heights as the vertical support.  The horizontal surface for
the bonsai container is a couple of layers.  First a section of 2"x12"
is screwed to the top of the

post.  This is supported by brackets which radiate out to each corner.
The brackets are made of pieces of 2"x4" cut into an ogee curve. Then
the top of the 2"x12" is covered with 1"x12" (or larger, if possible)
redwood.

If your bonsai aren't all that big, you can get fancy and make your
pedestal tops able to rotate by fitting the pole with a metal pipe down
the middle which is attached to a flange which is screwed onto the
bottom of the pedestal surface.  That will enable you to rotate your
bonsai routinely to get even sun distribution without

having to lift them.

Alan Walker, Lake Charles, LA, USA

http://LCBSBonsai.org <http://lcbsbonsai.org/>
http://bonsai-bci.com <http://bonsai-bci.com/>  

Nicolas Steenhout wrote:

Hello all,

I'm looking for some feedback on setting up the back/front yard.  Since
I have just arrived in my new home, I have to start again.  I have a
fair amount of space both in the back and in the front.  I have shady
spots and sunny spots.  Sheltered and not, etc...  I cannot, however,
just take over the entire garden, as my fiancée might take umbrage ;-)
Besides, at this point, I don't have the trees for it.

What I'd like to know, is how have you setup your trees?  What works for
you?  What doesn't work?  If you had to start from scratch, what would
be the one or two most important thing to consider?  Also, what
zone/area are you in (I suspect it might make a difference in set up).

And if you're up to it, a couple photos of your setup on our gallery
would be very cool indeed :-)

Thanks

Nic

 


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