Re: "Questions...are Bonzai trees any good for us in our climate ?"
I visited a 20 year old garden rwy last month near where you live. They have been quite successful growing seedlings of the ponderosa pine trees that live above their layout. They're able to keep the trees under 2.5 feet high. Nice garden. You would need to learn how to prune them using techniques similar to bonsai.
#1. You said outside Denver, better make sure you have dry river beds to carry away water that does get on your empire.
#2. Bonzai. Most do well in cool to cold climates. Remember, they are nothing more than a normal tree that has had its normal rate of growth stunted. Use the scientific name of each tree type to Google search for its preferred temperture ranges. I have the reverse problem. Some of mine require colder temps than we have in SoCal area. During the winter they move to the coolest part of the garage for 3 weeks, then to the "drom room fridge" I bought for my daughter 15+ years ago for 6 weeks.
#3. "Preen". 4 times a year. Weeds WILL find a place to grow. And exactly where you don't want. Track = ballast = place to grow, buildings collect dust under trhem = place to grow, bridge footings, and the list goes on. Use some form of seed germination inhibitor, they stop about 98% of weed growth without any harmfull effects on existing plants and trees.
#4. Plants in milk jugs. I would suggest something a bit more firm and stable. Milk jugs will start to deteriorate in around 3 years. My local Michaels store has small plastic (some ceramic) trays about 5 in x 5 in and about 1 1/2 inch deep. Local nursery will have a selection of shallow plant pots. My trees are in nested clay pots. Tree lives in one pot, the tree's location holds the next size larger pot, backfilled with aquarium gravel. Very easy to trim them by holding the pot and rotating the plant than on hands and knees in the layout. Feeding time - just dunk the pot into a Mirical-Gro bath for a few minutes.
Tom Trigg
Just jumping in on this thread, we are new to this and constructing our first Garden RR. We have elevated gardens and the top we sealed with 45 mil TPO single ply commercial roof membrane. Weeds won't ever grow through it in our lifetime but it wont allow water to seep in. We live about 8500 ft in the rockies outside Denver so pretty dry climate but weeds are tough as nails up here. We want to minimize weeding.
Our plan is to use cut down milk jugs with soil and plant cactuses and small plants as such in them, hide the jug with small stones, rock etc. LArger plant we have other plans for.
Questions...are Bonzai trees any good for us in our climate ? We will use some miniature spruces in some of the "mountain areas"....thought about Bonzais.
Cover over the TPO is small chunks of granite rock, ping pong ball to softball size most typically. We want to reduce any soil like material for plants to try and get root, also the dogs hate walking on these sized rocks so it discourages them from doing their business in the garden RY (At least that is the plan).
We are laying out the track and putting in the stones and rock to within 3-4 inches either side, plan to fill the void with Unwashed crusher fines and level, lay the track and then complete the ballast. Any ideas or feedback ?
Tom,
Thank you very much for the tips. For some reason, it had not occured to me to simply make a cross cut. I was trying to figure out how best to cut a small circle.
Andy
Depending what you are planting. Yes, just cut a small "X" in the fabric, just large enough to insert the plant. Then let the fabric back down so that it touches the plant 'trunk'. So long as you are planting rooted seedlings, as opposed to plant seeds, you might think about spreading some 'Preen' or other seed germination inhibitor. Preen will not have any effect on growing plants just stops weeds from spreading. The first year any weeds (or non-desired plants) will be easy enough to remove. After the second year enough dust and dirt will have worked its way into the gravel to support sprouting seeds. If you plan on growing from seed that I would suggest using a starter tray made from peat moss and waiting until the flowers or plants are tall enough to stand above the top of the gravel. The gardening cloth you have down will stop any non-wanted growth from below, but weed seeds just seem to find a way to migrate to where you do not want them.
Okay, we covered the soil with garden fabric and intend to put 2 - 3 inches of fine gravel on top of that. So do we brush aside the gravel and punch holes in the fabric to plant the vegetation ?
Thanks in advance,
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