Bonsai

There is no doubt that few people that are attracted to bonsai feel that they are starved, tortured trees as correctly grown Bonsai are blooming with health and vitality.

The most popular misconception is that the cutting of the roots keep the tree small. Instead, cutting the root system by a third and replacing it with soil keeps the tree healthy. The tree does not become root bound which would weaken any tree.

 

There are six things to look for when selecting your Bonsai:

1. Your selected plant needs to have a defined trunkline. It is an added bonus if thick bark is present. It should be wider at the base. 
2. To give a better proportion to the new Bonsai, the leaves on the plant should be naturally small.
3. Your tree needs to have the ability to grow new shoots from any position on the trunk or branches after pruned. You will need to know what type of plant it is and what it is capable of.
4. There must be lots of branches so you are able to cut away some to fit your design. This will also help the tree when you later cut the roots away.
5. Look for well developed roots either I the surface, or under the ground.
6. The lower branches should be close to the ground and must be healthy and strong.

Bonsai in Australia by Dorothy & Vita Koreshoff 4th edition 1983

 

Grass on Gardens

Putting your grass clippings straight in the garden bin is a wasted opportunity. There are other better opportunities for your garden that will not only benefit your garden, but save you money also.

If you have only used organic fertiliers (or not at all), or haven't used week killer, and believe you have some organic lawn, then you can use the grass clippings from your lawn mower.

Apart from putting the clippings into your bin, the next mistake is putting it straight on your garden, or under trees. I've seen this often and although the thinking is better than the bin idea, it isn't entirely a full step ahead.

Yes it can be used as mulch, however when put straight on the garden, it usually sticks together forming a mat when it gets wet and can restrict water getting through to the roots below. Another thing is that it may still contain seed, either from the grass you just cut, or any weeds you may have in your lawn. The purpose of mulch is to restrict water loss and weed growth, unfortunately using fresh grass clippings in this way does neither very well.

Fresh grass clippings are full of nitrogen which can be beneficial for the garden, however they are still green and not decomposed. This means when they are lying on your garden, they will be decomposing and produce heat, right on your plants roots. A citrus tree that has shallow roots could be killed. This is something you don't want, especially during summer when the soil maybe hot before decomposing grass is added.

If you believe your clippings are organic, they are suitable for decomposing. A hot compost bin will kill the seeds also. I sometimes sprinkle brown leaves over the lawn, then let the mower mulch them with the lawn, that way when you empty the mower catcher into the compost bin, it contains green and brown material together. If you just add green, your compost will end up being totally green and potentially smelly. However if you add some brown material and stir it up, your compost, complete with lawn clippings, will be great on the garden.  

Permaculture

Permaculture is a practical concept applicable from the balcony to the farm, from the city to the wilderness. It enables people to establish productive environment providing for food, energy, shelter, material and non-material needs, as well as the social and economic infrastructures that support them.

The concept was first developed by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in Tasmania in the 1970s, leading to the publication of the book 'Permaculture One'.

Permaculture means thinking carefully about our environment, our resources and how we supply our needs. It aims to create systems hat will sustain not only for the present, but for the future generations.

Permaculture International Journal-Issue No.62 Mar-May 1997 page 4