Gardening Composting

Gardening Composting: Why And What

Most gardeners use some type of fertilizer to ensure that their soil contains an adequate amount of minerals and nutrients to provide their gardens with enough food to grow healthy plants. In fact, fertilizer is so widely used that a single gardening center may carry several varieties to accommodate individual gardening needs. But buying fertilizer can be expensive, especially if you have a large garden. The good news is that you can make your own fertilizer by starting a compost heap. By doing your own gardening composting, you will have unlimited compost year round.

Why Do Gardening Composting

Making your own garden compost has several benefits, the most obvious one being that it’s extremely cost effective. So much so that it won’t cost you anything whatsoever.
Using compost improves not only the texture of your soil, but also the soil’s ability to retain water. It also increases the fertility of your soil without the use of chemicals which can be dangerous to animals or humans. Compost can also do a great deal to fix common soil issues, such as loosening clay soils and making sandy soils a bit more water retentive.

From a broader point of view, gardening composting also is very helpful to the environment. It helps reduce landfill loads. With space in landfills becoming harder and harder to find, creating your own compost means that more unnecessary waste won’t be added to the already overfull landfills.

What To Use In Gardening Composting

Any type of organic material makes for good compost. Typically, a good compost pile will be composed of both “brown” and “green” materials. Brown materials are things such as dead leaves, straw, and wood chips, whereas green materials are fresh items such as grass clippings and scraps from your kitchen. The type and ratio of these materials can make a difference in the rate of decomposition, and it may take you a while to get the right ratio down. A general rule of thumb for gardening composting is 25 parts of browns to 1 part of greens.

When it comes to natural yard waste, there are a few you’ll want to avoid using in your compost pile. Black walnuts trees, sumac, poison oak and poison ivy are all toxic and should be avoided at all costs.

If you use pine needles, be sure to chop them up because their waxy coating makes them slow to decompose. Grass clippings make wonderful compost, as they break down quickly and are rich in nitrogen. To avoid them turning sour, you can spread them out on the driveway and let them sit in the sun. This will dry them out and make them ready for the compost heap.

When it comes to kitchen scraps, pretty much anything is suitable for use in gardening composting. Vegetable matter like melon rinds, any type of peelings, etc., can be used. Meats and fatty foods can also go into the compost heap, but keep in mind that these will create a rather unpleasant odor as they decompose, and may attract pests to your compost pile.

Other additions to your compost pile can include things like ashes from your wood stove or fireplace, plants or weeds pulled from your garden, hay or straw, and even manure.

Conclusion

Doing your own gardening composting not only providing yourself with a ready source of food for your garden; you’re also helping reduce landfill refuse and saving yourself a lot of money that could be spent elsewhere. Once you know what to put into your compost heap, all that’s left is to choose a spot or a composting bin to start it in.

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Gardening Equipment

A Garden is Only as Good as its Gardening Equipment!

You would like to start a flower garden, but since you have not done much gardening, you do not have much of anything in the way of gardening equipment. So, in order to get your garden off to the right start, you should make sure that you have excellent gardening equipment.

Gardening Equipment Example #1: The Edger

A garden is marked by its edges, and you certainly want to make sure that they are well-defined. Thus, and important piece of gardening equipment to have is an edger. The edger makes sure that you mark the edges in the most even way possible.

Gardening Equipment Example #2: The Garden Claw

A garden claw is perhaps the most important example of gardening equipment that you can have. Something that you never want to see in a garden is weeds, and a garden claw helps to get rid of them. A garden claw is also very important in preparing the ground for a garden, because it helps to aerate the soil.

Gardening Equipment Example #3: The Rake

A rake is especially important during the fall season, when leaves have a tendency to get in the way of the beauty of a garden. However, a rake is also very necessary for evenly dispersing other gardening material, such as when you want to use pebble rocks to blanket your garden.

For More Information

These are just three of many different examples of gardening equipment that you might find very helpful when constructing your garden. The kinds of gardening equipment that you choose will have to do with a few factors.

Firstly, it will have to do with the kind of garden that you want. A flower garden is, after all, different from a rock garden! In both cases, a rake might be needed, but a rake will probably be needed m ore in the case of the rock garden.

When it comes to figuring out where you should go to find gardening equipment, the first place that you should look is your local home improvement center. This is usually the most convenient option, since home improvement centers usually have garden centers as well.

Of course, if you do not know what equipment you need, you should ask for help from the professionals at the garden center, or you can search the internet. However, make sure that the websites you choose to get information from are reputable. You are sure to find the right gardening equipment for you with the proper research.

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Gardening Catalogs

Gardening Catalogs Contain Many Useful Ideas

If you really want to make your garden grow, it will take more than silver bells and cockle shells and everything you might need can be found in gardening catalogs. Many different companies make a multitude of tools and materials that can take some of the labor out of gardening and between the advertisers and contributing writers there is a lot of information that can be gleaned from gardening catalogs. Simply pull the ideas of what you want your garden to produce and store them away until it is time to put the information to practical use.

When planting flowers gardening catalogs can offer advice on how to rotate the plants in a garden to provide vibrant color throughout the growing season. Different species of flowers grow and blossom at different times of the year and gardening catalogs can also offer tips on when to plant tall ones and short ones to make the best use of the available space.

There is also information about how to maintain pest control in flower beds in gardening catalogs, many from the companies offering the plants for sale. Buying directly from the nursery through a catalog often provides a better guarantee on the plants than buying them from a local greenhouse. There may also be some complimentary products available the local stores do not carry.

Choose The Information And Products From Reputable Firms

There are certain companies that have developed a reputation for quality products and customer service over the years and their reputation backs everything they sell. Choosing gardening catalogs produced by these companies offer the best odds of finding quality information to help the garden be the best it can be. While some newer companies may offer comparable products, buying from a reputable company improves the odds of success.

When planting fruit and vegetable gardens, the end result is going to be more important than any promises made by companies in their gardening catalogs. While pictures of the produce supposedly grown by the plants and seeds they sell may look good on the slick glossy paper, chances are they may not look as good when they spring from the garden soil.

Temper expectations about the final product appeal and yield when buying anything from gardening catalogs and remember how that fast food burger looks in advertisements compared to how it looks when you unwrap the sandwich. The quality of the fruits and vegetables should be more important than the plant's appearance, regardless of which gardening catalogs they came from.

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Gardening By The Yard

Tips and Facts For Gardening By The Yard

Gardening by the yard is a wonderful thing. Depending on what your garden grows, you can have fresh vegetables at your table or flowers for your home at appropriate seasons. When you do gardening by the yard, you have a bigger area to develop and cultivate your plants.

Things To Consider

Gardening by the yard means your plants are exposed to the elements. The sun and the rain are beneficial for all plants but snow, sleet and too much of rain and sun can be disastrous. When first planning to do gardening by the yard, one initial aspect you have to consider is the location of your garden. You may have a large enough yard to give you several options but a small yard can be limiting and may need careful thought. The areas in your yard most hit by the sun need to be identified as well as the areas close to water sources.

Some plants prefer a lot of sunshine while others do not. Several plants can withstand chilly weather while others can not. The kinds of plants you will use for gardening by the yard need to be considered well or you will be faced with dead or dying plants when the weather changes. Of course, if your plant preferences are not suitable for your weather or may need special care, you will need to do so just to indulge your wish.

Other things to consider when planning to do gardening by the yard are the time you have to take care of your garden and then plants you intend to plant. Some plants need regular care while others can be expected to thrive with minimal attention. You might also consider not planting any species of plants that may pose a danger to pets, babies and other small creatures that might wander into your yard garden.

Some animals are not as cautious as others and may try to eat some of the plants or berries that they see. The same goes for babies or children who are left to their devices in the garden. Many tempting looking berries or so called fruits of plants can be toxic when ingested.

Gardening by the yard can be fulfilling and can help ease the tension of a full day. This is also a relaxing past time that can serve as exercise and getting a breath of fresh air. Many gardeners are less prone to sickness and other diseases because of gardening by the yard or indoor gardening.

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Gardening Boots

Do Fashionable Gardening Boots Exist?

To be sure, gardening boots are work boots above all else.

Gardening boots need to be waterproof and easy to clean. Leather and suede are out; rubber and vinyl are in.

They should slip off and on easily – but not so easily that you pull your feet out of them when you walk through mud. So they can't be leg-hugging, knee-high, side zip boots.

The soles of your gardening boots should be sturdy and thick enough so you can step on the top edge of a shovel.

Is it possible for boots that work so hard to be fashionable? Perhaps.

Wellingtons – The Mother Of All Gardening Boots

Okay, so Wellington's aren't the height of fashion, but at least they come in some fashion colors now. Worn for decades by royalty on their long country walks, Wellington boots now come in red, green, navy blue, and classic black. They are fully lined and have an adjustable strap to adjust the tightness of the boot top.

When you're outside gardening in rainy weather, you'll find that you wouldn’t trade your Wellington boots for the most stylish boot around. Wellington gardening boots will cost you about $70.

Western Chief Waterproof Gardening Boots

Western Chief makes a variety of novelty gardening boots that, while they may not be fashionable, are definitely very cute. The boots are made of sturdy rubber. A pair of shopping-bag style handles at the top of each boot makes them easy to pull on and off.

The ladybug boots are red with black polka dots, with red eyes, antennae, and a red smile. Turtle boots are green with a turtle print. These boots are also great for rain wear with jeans or a colorful skirt. A pair will run you around $25 to $30.

Classic Cloggies

Gardening boots are great, but sometimes you just want a simple shoe you can step in and out of, like a clog. Women's Classic Clogs by Town and Country are just $9.99. These injection molded shoes have a cushioned insole and come in three bright colors: red, green, and navy blue.

Don't Forget The Boot Stand

Gardening boots are meant to stay outdoors, on the back porch, or in a mud room. Get a boot stand to keep all your gardening boots and clogs organized. A good boot stand will have shoe trees so you can dry your boots out, upside down, and wire racks for drying other shoes.

Most racks have enough room for scarves, hats, and gloves. Boots dry faster when you place the stand near a heat vent or wood stove.

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Gardening Books

A Brief Look At Gardening Books

So it’s getting to be that time of year again. You’ve seen your neighbor puttering around in his backyard, preparing to plant this year’s garden, and it’s got you thinking maybe you’d like to start one of your own. Gardening certainly is a relaxing and enjoyable pastime. So much so, in fact, that over 80% of Americans participate in some form of gardening each year. And if you’re wondering just where to start, checking out a few gardening books at your local library or book store will certainly help you get on your way. Below, we’ll take a look at a few that you might enjoy.

Flower Gardening Books

Eileen Powell’s The Gardener’s A-Z Guide to Growing Flowers from Seed to Bloom is an excellent reference for both novice and seasoned gardeners. In her book, Powell covers everything you need to know when it comes to growing flowers from seed. Within its 528 pages, the book ranges from giving detailed information on each of the over 500 plants covered, to including both a photo gallery of each plant and tips on seeding, growing, propagation, germination and care.

Another of the many wonderful flower gardening books out there is Perennials for Every Purpose: Choose the Right Plants for Your Conditions, Your Garden, and Your Taste by Larry Hodgson. In this 512 page book, Hodgson gives clear and easy to follow advice that every beginning gardener will want to know. The information he presents on picking plants, designing a garden, and caring for it all is done in a very personal and inviting manner.

Vegetable Gardening Books

The Vegetable Gardener's Bible: Discover Ed's High-Yield W-O-R-D System for All North American Gardening Regions by Edward C. Smith is an excellent gardening book written in a step-by-step and common sense approach that is perfect for both experienced and beginning gardeners alike. Over 300 pages cover the W-O-R-D system that Smith designed (W-O-R-D stands for: Wide rows, Organic methods, Raised beds, and Deep soil). Smith also discusses what to grow, what varieties offer a better yield, and the individual growing time of each plant.

Fern Marshall Bradley’s Vegetable Gardening: From Planting to Picking - The Complete Guide to Creating a Bountiful Garden is another wonderful vegetable gardening book that provides a general guide for the new gardener. Bradley discusses how to plant each individual type and gardening using both organic and non-organic methods. She also gives step-by-step instruction on planning, getting your garden spot ready for planting, and basic garden maintenance such as weeding and watering.

Conclusion

These are but a few of the gardening books available on the market. If you need assistance choosing a book that fits what you’re looking for, ask your local gardening center or take a trip to the local book store. No matter what your gardening preference, you’ll be sure to find hundreds of books to choose from on any number of plants and planting methods.

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Gardening

Gardening Can Be A Relaxing Pastime

Whether you plant flowers, vegetables or both working outside gardening can be a relaxing experience. Although at times it can seem like back-breaking labor, but in the end when the flowers are blooming and the vegetables are ready to be harvested, gardening can offer rewards like few other activities. In the first weeks when your seeds are still under the ground, it may seem like all your work preparing the soil was for nothing, but from the time the first sprouts start poking up through the ground, all the hard work is forgotten.

However, just because the plants are beginning to show signs of life does not mean the work is over. Your efforts have probably produced some pretty good soil and the flowers or vegetables are not the only things liking the surrounding. Weeds add another dimension to your gardening efforts and many of those will grow bigger and faster when you pay less attention to them.

Depending on the size of the plots you put in the ground, gardening has a profound affect on the appearance of your yard. Flowers can provide bursts of color throughout the area and help brighten otherwise dull corners of the yard. A few raised flower beds scattered around a large yard can help visually break up the area and reduce the amount of grass cutting you have to do…leaving more time for weeding.

Eating What You Grow Is a Wonderful Experience

There is nothing quite like the taste of fresh vegetables and no matter how good the produce department is in your favorite store, vegetables start to die the minute they are picked. Your gardening efforts can offer the freshest vegetables possible as you pick them clean them and eat them.

Growing you own tomatoes and peppers and turning them into spaghetti sauce can be a lot of work, but the end product is your own and nothing can beat the taste of homemade tomato sauce when it is done right. Your gardening work can produce a winter's worth of food during a typical growing season in an average size garden.

There is no doubt that gardening is a lot of work as it starts in the early spring when the soil needs prepared and loosened to allow the roots room to grow once the seeds sprout. Throughout the season you will be watering and weeding and watching everything grow to maturity and then you get to pick it and pack it or eat, right from the vine.

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Flower Gardening

Getting Into Flower Gardening

A lot of people love to stop and smell the flowers and to admire them but not a lot of people understand the hard work that goes into flower gardening. Flower gardening is certainly just as hard as any other type of gardening and sometimes, even harder. There is a lot of planning and maintenance that has to be done to make sure your flower gardening adventure is a true success. There is a lot more to flower gardening besides just throwing some seeds down and sprinkling some water on the plants.

Unlike a regular garden full of veggies, the flower garden has a purpose of looking good. A regular garden just has to grow the veggies and does not ever have to be pretty when doing it. But when planning to start into flower gardening, a person must stop and plan a lot of things like light, shade, watering, heights of different plants and whether or not the plants that they like can live close to each other. There are certain plants out there that would block out and kill other plants so the gardener must beware.

The Tasks Of Flower Gardening

Once your efforts in flower gardening have taken off and there are products of your hard work all around you, it is important to keep a watchful eye on your flowers. There are so many bugs out there just waiting and willing to take a big bite out of that pretty purple petal the moment you turn your back. And that is why so many people turn to chemicals when flower gardening in order to protect their hard work. No one wants to step out of their house one morning to see tiny little holes punctured through all of the pretty petals of their flowers. That would surely be the worst thing that could happen to someone involved in flower gardening.

But you will want to be careful before using such chemicals because if your flowers are anywhere near plants that produce foods then you could be poisoning yourself or others. Also make sure to read the labels carefully as some chemicals are not harmful after they dry on the plant leaves, petals, and on the soil but others can remain a danger. If there are ever dogs or cats that roam the neighborhood, you could be killing those poor pets and all you wanted to do was be a success at flower gardening.

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Feng Shui Gardening

Feng Shui Gardening: Growing In Balance

Gardens are meant to be places of great beauty and tranquility. They should provide the onlooker with a sense of peace and balance that is hard to find anywhere else. Think of them as an oasis in the desert of the day-to-day rat race we go through every day. The Chinese have long believed that this harmony and balance can be achieved via the artful arrangement of objects. This practice be applied to your home as well as your garden. But just what is feng shui gardening?

What Is Feng Shui Gardening

Feng shui is the ancient Chinese art of arranging furniture and objects within a house so that chi energy (or life energy) can flow more easily, thus creating balance and harmony within the home, and filling it with positive energy. Feng shui gardening follows the same principle and uses the ancient art to achieve a sense of tranquility in the garden.

Followers of feng shui believe that if you’re home is out of balance, this will affect your entire life. Everything from your work, to your emotional well-being, to your personal relationships will be off kilter. By applying the principles of feng shui, you can bring all of these elements back into harmony, and thus make not only your home more inviting, but also making your life that much smoother.

In feng shui gardening, the entrance to the garden is ideally located to the south. This direction also means that your garden will get the maximum exposure to the sun. Using a gate on the entrance is not recommended as well, as this can affect the flow of energy, and also block light from getting to your plants. Many feng shui gardeners suggest using an arbor instead, as this is more open and creates a more inviting entrance to both people and energy.

The types of plants used in feng shui gardening are unimportant. What is important are the colors of the flowers you intend to use. Colors have a very strong impact on energy levels. Using warm colors like reds and yellows have an uplifting effect, whereas cooler colors like purple and white have a more soothing effect on onlookers.

Balance and diversity is also very important in feng shui gardening. Use a wide variety of plants in your garden, but do not over crowd them. Clutter is extremely inhibiting to the flow of positive energy, and tends to make a garden feel like more of a jungle than an inviting oasis.

Whatever plants you choose to include in your garden, feng shui gardening dictates that all five elements be represented. This means including other things such as decorations. The five elements -- water, wood, fire, earth, and metal – can be represented by water features, benches, lights, clay pots and rocks, and wind chimes respectively, just to name a few.

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Fall Gardening

Make Your Fall Gardening a Festive Experience

The fall has arrived, and while some people take this season as indicative of a time to stop doing yard work, it can actually be a time to do some beautiful yard work. Fall is known for its beautiful colors, and you can make those a part of your garden by doing some fall gardening.

Think About What the Fall Season Means to You

When you think about the fall, there are a variety of symbols that might come to mind. Things like pumpkins and scarecrows are very common symbols of fall, and you can certainly use them in your fall gardening.

For example, if you have an area of your yard that looks particularly boring, you can liven it up with a little vignette of a scarecrow surrounded by pumpkins. For this fall gardening idea, decide if you would like to make your own scarecrow, or buy a ready-made one at your local gardening store.

If you choose to include a homemade scarecrow in your fall gardening plan, start by finding some old clothes and setting them aside. Next, you can either stuff the scarecrow with fallen leaves, or get hay from your garden supply store and stuff the scarecrow. Take the scarecrow and tie it to a large stick, and once this is done, you can move on to the next step in your fall gardening adventure.

Picking pumpkins is a seasonal experience, particularly between September and October. Thus, it is important to time your pumpkin picking for your fall gardening just right. After all, you want to make sure that your fall gardening scene looks lovely for as long as possible!

It is important to note that you probably should not carve the pumpkins that you are using in your fall gardening, since a carved pumpkin only lasts a week at most. Instead, consider choosing two whole pumpkins and placing them on either side of the scarecrow.

Another thing that you should consider incorporating into your fall gardening vignette is some flowers. The flowers that are traditional for the fall are chrysanthemums, particularly gold and orange ones.

If you would like more information on fall gardening ideas, all you have to do is look at the various gardening magazines that are available at your local bookstore. You can also search the internet, since there are a variety of different websites that have pictures of various fall gardening ideas. You are sure to find the right fall gardening ideas for you with the proper research.

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Economic Gardening

How To Tackle Economic Gardening

Now that there are so many different news stories about bad food such as lettuce and such being sold in restaurants and grocery stores, it is amazing that more people are not taking advantage of economic gardening in order to get at least some of their fruits and veggies. Depending on where in the country you live, of course you are going to be limited to certain types of food which you can grow but you should be able to have enough of a selection to get you started in economic gardening.

A lot of people automatically assume that you need not only a lot land to plant a garden, but a lot of experience, and a lot of money too. But that is simply not the case at all. There are several great sources on the Internet, in the library, and in books at your local book store which can provide you with tip after tip on how to grow your own fruits and veggies. These references can also serve, as an excellent place to get some highly needed information on how to approach your venture of economic gardening.

The Downside Of Economic Gardening

With all of the plus sides for economic gardening, it is hard to imagine that there is anything that could be on the negative side. But when thinking hard about it I can only really think of one and that is that you will have to work hard at your garden, no matter if it is large or small, as any garden needs love, care, and plenty of attention. There are many tasks to be done within any garden and when going with economic gardening, you are going to be very cautious about what tools you bring into your garden as not all are considered to be for very economic gardening.

Other then that, there really is not much to put on the negative side of the list. There are many more benefits to gain from economic gardening and usually you will only see the true benefits after you put your plan into action and see what is produced. After your first economic gardening adventure, you may never get your veggies another way ever again. Your friends and family will be at your door for their shopping needs instead of being down at the local market. So go ahead, research and see what exactly you can grow in your area and get started. The sooner the better and you will not be sorry about the labor involved.

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Container Gardening

Guide To Basic Container Gardening

Container gardening can be very convenient for individuals with minimal space in their homes or those who wish to have plants inside their homes. Container gardening enables the gardener to bring in a splash of color to their homes. Compared to single pots, most containers used in container gardening are relatively large and can contain several plants of the same species or of different species.

Choosing A Container For You Garden

One thing that you should consider when choosing a container is the kind of plant you wish to put in the container. Some vegetables require deeper pots for their roots to burrow into while others do not require as much space. Container gardening mediums vary from containers such as plastic pots, terracotta containers and wooden boxes.

Plastic containers for container gardening tend to discolor in time and may also eventually be susceptible to cracks and deterioration. Unglazed terracotta containers will dry up eventually and may be prone to breakage as well as being heavy to cart around. Glazed terracotta containers are ideal since the glaze seals them and protect them from drying up. Wooden containers are prone to rot although choosing wood that is not susceptible to rotting is an option.

One advantage of wooden containers for container gardening is that these can be made to fit the specifications of the area you wish to put your plants in. You must bear in mind that treated wood that you will use for container gardening can affect your plants so ask what chemicals were used to treat the lumber before you buy.

Containers used for container gardening must also have a wide opening for better plant growth. The containers must also have appropriate drainage to prevent root rot and other root damage. For containers with big drainage holes, you can line the bottom inside part of the container with news paper to prevent soil loss.

Most container gardening are for indoors plants so it is best to consider the areas where they are placed. Sunlight is one thing to consider as well as the temperature in the area. Some plants need more sunlight than others so make it a point to ask or find out what kind of care your plants need.

Container gardening can be especially satisfying when you plant herbs or vegetables that you place in your kitchen for fresh use when you are cooking. Live plants can also bring color to any area of your home.

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Bonsai Gardening

Bonsai Gardening: A Short Introduction

Bonsai gardening is certainly one of the most unique and beautiful forms of art in existence. Since its early beginning in ancient China to present day, it has developed into many striking individual styles. Once miniaturized, however, maintaining the look and well-being of the bonsai requires a bit of care and attention on the part of the gardener.

Brief History of Bonsai

Bonsai gardening is the ancient art form of literally miniaturizing trees. The practice itself is over 2000 years old, and began during China’s Han dynasty. The Chinese word for bonsai gardening, pen’jing, means “tray scenery” or “tree or shrub planted in a shallow tray”. It was given the name bonsai by the Japanese, who adopted the practice in the ninth century.

Styles of Bonsai

There are several styles that are common to the art form of bonsai gardening. Among these are: the formal upright style, the slant style, the cascade style, the literati style, the forest style, the root-over-rock style.

Bonsai done in the formal upright style have upright trunks that are straight and tapering. Slant style bonsai are aptly named. Their trunks are straight, like those of the formal upright style, but lean at a slant from the surface of the soil.

Cascade style bonsai are intentionally groomed to resemble trees that can be found on the sides of mountains. Literati bonsai were inspired by ancient brush paintings of trees that grew in inhospitable climates. They therefore have few branches. What branches they do have are generally clustered at the top of the trunk, which is usually contorted.

Forest style bonsai are relatively self explanatory. They are comprised of several trees planted together in odd numbers. This type of bonsai gardening is intended to mimic the diversity of age and height that you would find in nature. In the root-over-rock style, the roots of the bonsai are wrapped around a rock at the base of the tree.

Caring for Bonsai

An important part of bonsai gardening is knowing how to care for your bonsai.
Watering is not done as you would typically water your average houseplant. Bonsai trees require immersing the entire pot or tray in water for several minutes. Once taken out of the water, allow the bonsai to drain. During the summer, bonsai need to be watered daily, and every other day during the cooler months.

Bonsai require a warm location with lots of light in order to thrive. Avoid placing them near window sills, due to the varying temperatures that can be present as a result of drafts.

Bonsai also require a lot of fertilizer. Fertilizer should be given to the bonsai only after it has been watered. A typical feeding schedule would be once every two weeks during the summer months, cutting that back to once a month for the rest of year.

Bonsai are living trees, and therefore will grow and sprout new branches and limbs over time. When it comes time to prune this new growth, follow the original pattern of your bonsai. Remember, you just want to preserve the look of your bonsai, so don’t trim too much – just enough to remove the new sprouts and shoots.

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