Here’s a topic I never planned to address – protecting bonsai from hail damage.
As most readers know far better than I do, hail can quickly damage bonsai – especially deciduous varieties with foliage that has yet to harden off.
Upon realizing that it was hailing yesterday morning, I ran outside and grabbed my smaller deciduous trees to bring them under cover. Fortunately the storm passed quickly, leaving stones that only got up to 1/2″ in size.
Once it cleared up, I took a closer look at my trees and found that most fared well. The pines, for instance, didn’t seem to notice.
Black pines
The Japanese beech also seemed unfazed.
Japanese beech
The stewartia, on the other hand, seemed less happy with the weather as they lost quite a few leaves.
Fallen stewartia leaves
The junipers, whether cuttings or collected specimens, simply shrugged.
Itiogawa shimpaku cuttings
Why didn’t I expect to address the topic? This was the most hail I’d seen in my garden in over 25 years. We typically don’t get much hail, and when it does come, it typically passes quickly.
ABS Gateway to Bonsai in St. Louis this weekend!
Gateway to Bonsai, hosted by the American Bonsai Society and the Bonsai Society of Greater St. Louis, opens this Thursday in Collinsville, Illinois. The event features headliners Marc Noelanders, Bjorn Bjorholm, and Matt Reel, plus workshops, seminars and a large vendor’s area.
I’ll be vending at the event, leading a seminar on advanced wiring, and hosting a workshop that focuses on the creation of exposed root black pine bonsai. Participants will create two exposed root black pines using the approach featured in this post. I’ll also provide guidance for developing the trees over the next several years.
If you’re thinking of heading to the convention and want to learn more, find more info about the event here!
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