The amount of work and effort employed in the care of your Bonsai, be they outside or inside trees will vary depending on the time of year.

Enjoy those tasks which you thought were either irrelevant or too time consuming as all the time and effort you invest contributes towards creating either a healthy tree, a more aesthetically pleasing tree or a tree which is positioned ready for future improvement.

This section will split the care of Bonsai into the 4 seasons of the year. It gives general guidance on Bonsai care and an overview of the main activities to undertake each season. Please bear in mind though that dependent on the species of Bonsai you are caring for you may need to undertake much more specific and tailored care throughout the year.

Summer

Watering:- Water daily for most species, although ensure you are familiar enough with each individual Bonsai to establish whether some require less frequent watering and some more frequent. Obviously this pattern will also vary in very high temperatures. Also be aware that winds in a cool spell can have a drying effect too. Misting of the trees daily will also benefit most species.

Feeding:- Standard Bonsai liquid fertiliser twice a month. If in any doubt as to the concentration required always dilute heavily and increment as necessary. If your Bonsai is looking a bit unhealthy DO NOT feed it until it has recovered.

Re-Potting:- Too late!

Shaping & Designing :- Wiring and pruning can be carried out now pretty much as frequently as you want depending on the Bonsai and the stage of development it is in.

General:- Best time of the year to display and show off your collection. Bring the odd one or two indoors and experiment displaying them in a certain part of your house.  Also, look out for pests and diseases at this time of year especially destructive insects.

Autumn

Watering:- The frequency with which you water your Bonsai reduces as you enter the autumn months. Todays climate is never predictable though so be wary of dry spells and change your watering habits appropriately.

Feeding:- Better to be safe than sorry so stop ALL feeding in the autumn.

Re-Potting:- Too late and too early!

Shaping & Designing :- Good time to remove wire if there is any and wait till winter, especially for deciduous trees. Evergreens can be wired as normal.

General:- Ensure you pick off all the old leaves on your deciduous trees as they can harbour pests and disease. Generally prepare you Bonsai and thier environment for the winter months.

Winter

Watering:- Ensure you don't forget about your Bonsai altogether and do water occasionally. In fact it is still advisable to keep your Bonsai moist most of the time in dry spells. Conversely, in times of heavy rainfall you will need to cover your trees. If you water in the early evening and a night frost is due you may damage the roots.

Feeding:- NO feeding at all.

Re-Potting:- Generally still too early although if you are careful and protect the newly re-potted Bonsai you may be lucky.

Shaping & Designing :- Start wiring deciduous trees in the winter as you can see the structure of the Bonsai more clearly.

General:- The inclement weather is the main concern at this time of year. Watch out for heavy rains, strong winds and worst of all hard frosts. Protect your Bonsai vigilantly!

Spring

Watering:- This is a transition phase between the moderate watering routine of the winter and the daily summer routine. Watch the weather and the moistness of your Bonsai and use common sense. Don't waterlog newly re-potted trees but remember this is a growing season so if in doubt keep your tree moist.

Feeding:- If the weather is turning mild you may wish to start early feeding but be careful and watch the long term forecasts. NEVER feed newly re-potted Bonsai.

Re-Potting:- Busy time of the year as now is the time to get those Bonsai into new pots.

Shaping & Designing :- Time for pinching and pruning to start. Begin pinching as early as you dare in the Spring months in order to gain the maximum benefit from your work.

General:- This is the time for re-growth, re-newal, re-potting and re-styling so lots of work, but hey you've been waiting 2 seasons for it!