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#1
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[IBC] Yard setup???
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 ombrage ;-) 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 ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Carl Rosner++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
#2
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[IBC] Yard setup???
Great to hear that you are well enough settled and raring to go Nic. I'm
glad that there weren't too many breakages in transit. We discussed my setup a long time ago but if you'd like I can stick a couple of pics on the gallery. (I remember a comment that you'd probably have a bit of difficulty with the slope rate of my path.) Anyhoo, from the sounds of it you have an ideal mix. Sun, shade, exposed and sheltered. What more could you want? I recommend that you make haste slowly :-) Take a year to assess the nature of the garden before you do anything drastic. In that year you will get a better feel for the native plants, their responses to the site and stuation. My plans evolved from doing just this and I still made some mistakes. This will also give you a chance to draw up the best possible solutions to your needs for you and your trees in terms of visibility, accessibility and security. Are you in a place that is new to your partner or does she know it well? Is she a plantswoman? If not, test the soil and assess its pH and drainage. Watch where shadows are cast by buildings and trees (are they evergreen/deciduous?). Work out where the sun rises and sets throughout the year. Where do prevailing winds come from? After a year, your feel for all of this will be much greater. You may also spot things that are already there that can provide good future material. I removed a few things in haste that I should have attempted to transplant. Most regrettably a row of old Winter Jasmine that was growing where it shouldn't be. I use the sheltered and shaded front of my house for cosseting newly repotted, recently removed air layers, establishing yamadori in their first week or two, tender maples etc. This area gets passed regularly with a mist sprayer. It is also an area of potential conflict as I constantly have to strive to keep the path to my front door clear enough for family and visitors! Any spare space in the ground here is used for Maples, Ferns, Tree Ferns and Hostas. Just beyond the shaded area is my main greenhouse, still sheltered though. This one used for propagation and overwintering. All benches, trees and boxed up trees in training are at the opposite side of the house facing into the prevailing wind and catching the sun from dawn till dusk. I've made use of the large Silver Birch, that was there before I redesigned, to cast partial shade over half of my main bench. That is where all my Maples are happiest with full sun dappled naturally through the open canopy. New benches have provided me with much greater control of my developing stock but wind strengths here means that I have to keep a close eye on weather forecasts and move stuff down to floor level or tie things down if there's a real blow. Spare ground (former vegetable beds and old chicken run) has slowly been taken over for development in the ground. Great variations in water retentiveness and fertility mean that a good range of stuff has slowly been found the right environment. Some trial and error has been the key here. I hope some of this is of use. There are some articles on beches, columns and security, that may be worth revisiting, on my site at http://www.actionvideo.freeserve.co.uk/articles.htm. Cheers Kev Bailey Vale Of Clwyd, North Wales Zone 9 Snipped:- 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 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.538 / Virus Database: 333 - Release Date: 10/11/2003 ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Carl Rosner++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
#3
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[IBC] Yard setup???
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 ombrage ;-) 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 :-) Kevin's advice was on the mark. It will take you a while to get so many trees that you need many tables. Another consideration: watering. How are you going to do it? If by hand with a watering can, water gets heavy if you lug it around. I have a "Dripworks" system that does my bonsai tables, platforms and shade (Oriental) garden. (I keep my trees in a pretty shady spot because our sun gets so danged intense in the summer.) The simplest watering scheme is a hose and sprinkler and that's fairly portable. You, of course, have the wheelchair to consider, so I'd guess you'd want the trees concentrated in one or two accessible locations, rather than scattered around the garden -- which often is the most attractive way of doing it. This might mean tiered tables, with the highest tier at just below head level (for you in a chair). Of course the size of your (planned) trees also will play a role. Enjoy the planning. Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - The phrase 'sustainable growth' is an oxymoron. - Stephen Viederman ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Carl Rosner++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
#4
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[IBC] Yard setup???
Nic,
If interested there are some shots of my garden on my pages. Zone 5 BTW. What is yours there? But, Jims thoughts on wheelchair accessibility are certainly ( I'm sure) in your mind. I'm picturing something like a "keyhole" shaped patio block track wider than chair with a "turn around" at the end and a work bench with turntable in the middle of the turn-around.. That would be fairly cheap to have built. Rows of trees benches on both sides of walk. Then, at each end of walk a hose spigot on a post ( hose underground) with a fairly short hose section with quick-disconnects for each end ( or , just two short hoses) but the idea is to keep them short sections as to help keep them out of your way. I cannot recommend watering systems. Some people swear by them, but, I want to actually LOOK AT the trees every time I water. You might even consider a covered tool box of some sort maybe midway down benches so they are protected and you don't need to haul them around.. This could all be pretty close to house and not much room. I like to keep shady/ partial shady benches about 1/2 the day. Not a good idea to have stuff in front of house. Thieves! Any fencing in yard? Regards, Dale Cochoy, Wild Things Bonsai Studio, Hartville, Ohio http://www.WildThingsBonsai.Com Specializing in power wood carving tools. Yakimono no Kokoro bonsai pottery of hand-built stoneware ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Lewis" Subject: [IBC] Yard setup??? You, of course, have the wheelchair to consider, so I'd guess you'd want the trees concentrated in one or two accessible locations, rather than scattered around the garden -- which often is the most attractive way of doing it. This might mean tiered tables, with the highest tier at just below head level (for you in a chair). Of course the size of your (planned) trees also will play a role. Enjoy the planning. Jim Lewis - ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Carl Rosner++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
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