THINK AHEAD, Seasonal Bonsai Tasks, June /July (Summer)

What are the ESSENTIAL 13 Bonsai Tasks I carry out in June and July? Join me as I walk you through my Bonsai Retreat and be sure to stay for my TOP TIP…
Seasonal Bonsai Tasks Playlist:
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God Bless & Happy Bonsaiing
Xavier
-- TIMESTAMPS --
00:00 What are my 13 Essential Bonsai Tasks?
00:56 Japanese White Pine Candles.
02:16 Don’t Fertilise in Summer.
02:50 Deadwood Work.
03:30 Maple & Deciduous Pruning.
04:02 Dawn Redwood Pruning.
05:47 Satsuki Azalea Hard Pruning.
06:35 Partial Defoliation for my Oaks.
07:17 Scots Pine Candle Cutting / Styling.
08:15 Juniper Styling.
08:39 Japanese Larch Pruning.
09:26 Tigerbark Ficus Full Defoliation.
10:12 Air Layer Projects.
10:43 Olive Repots.
11:43 TOP TASK is Watering.
12:37 Jade Pruning / Repots.
13:01 Sun Protection for you and your Bonsai.
15:01 A BONUS Task.
Equipment & Acknowledgements:
I use a Panasonic Lumix DMC 330 Bridge Camera
All video production using AVC Video Editor Software
Sound equipment courtesy of: johnaronphotography.co.uk
Handmade Ceramics by: Dawn Isaac of deiceramics.com
Please be aware that all details of products used are given for your benefit only - I do not receive any financial recompense. I just think they are good value and you should know where to buy them if interested.
#bonsaiuk #bonsaitree #bonsaicare #bonsaigarden #pruning

[@BonsaiDruid-qo9lo]

Love the base of the trunk on that yamadori hornbeam

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

It will feature for the first time next spring for a repot and root around...

[@Bonsaicrazy]

Nice xav mate Thanks for the info and shout out mate 👊👊 Good luck with all that hard work mate 👊👊

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

No worries Andy

[@oachkatzlsmum]

Good morning ☺️ 31st of May - skid chain mandatory on our Grossglocknerhochalpenstrasse ❄️😅 Thanks Xavier for your lovely warm and sunny bright video ☀️🥰👍 Enjoy your day 😘 Cheers 🙋‍♀️ Martina

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Time to go for a walk in the alps soon :)

[@harrietb2141]

Have a nice summer🌳🌳🌿🪴☀️🌧️🌺🌷

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thnak yous o much - I will let you know if I see any sun :)

[@sueb1317]

Such an action-packed couple of months coming - think I'll have to watch this episode a couple more times!! Will also have to re-acquaint myself with Aug/Sept tasks. My pruning is WAY behind. Cool wet spring = lots of caterpillar and aphid damage - must let trees grow and recover a bit. Have a great time with your early summer work!!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Cheers Sue - it was only during the filming for this that I noticed the caterpillars had attacked my big silver birch AGAIN!!! It is really struggling to get back on its roots...so to speak :)

[@TheSunnyTrails]

Hey Xavier, love the videos. Just wanted to comment and say please don’t be so hard on yourself. I know you may be goofing around. But I love your comedic videos and deep wisdom. Keep up the good work man!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I appreciate you telling me that. KZbin can be a tough place for comments sometimes - especially with the 'couch' experts all getting upset if you act like you are an expert. Hopefully I can keep the balance and not upset too many people. The humour will always be in my videos and those who know me will recognise that part of my harsh chat is deliberately aimed at myself :) Life is far too hard to be too serious aabout aa relaxing hobby after all - thanks for your support :)

[@mattbrennan647]

Water Once a day soil mix. (Connecticut) - 1/3 each Turface, perlite, organic cactus mix. Good luck 👍🏻

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Sounds like a decent mix for you :)

[@mattbrennan647]

Great timely information Xavier. Thanks, keep growing

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Cheers hearing from you Matt :)

[@rtregear]

As always - useful, practical advice. Thanks!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

And now you can say you know exactly where everything was filmed :)

[@oachkatzlsmum]

Love your trees 😍 Meanwhile in Salzburg: My Olive is fully covered with flowers 🌼🌼🌼 Don’t know yet, if it would need an other tree to develop olives. We‘ll see ☺️ Cheers

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Mine produce the flowers that turn to Olives but it is never hot enough for long enough for them to actually fully develop. I keep hoping :)

[@raymondplodzien7459]

I love your bi monthly tips Xavier! So helpful.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I appreciate you saying that. I know there is lots more that gets done but hopefully the main stuff gets mentioned.

[@jamesn7156]

June and July are my ficuses time to grow! I just gave them a light pruning, but will let them grow crazy the next few months, followed my a harder structural pruning and a repotting if needed in August. I’ve found if Im going on vacation, I plan a pruning before I leave and also wrapping the pots in aluminum foil to extend my daily watering a bit. 3 or 4 days later under the aluminum foil and the inorganic soil is still moist, even on the hottest days.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks for that tip about the aluminum foil - I give that a go this year. I've pruned my Ficus to that timing as well and found it is very beneficial. I normally do my full defoliation when they first come outside...but the weather has been temperamental and suddenly its June (nearly) :)

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

Foist 😃🎉 I’ve enjoyed these and they serve as a handy reminder and prompt👍

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

You will always be foist in my bonsai world Jason :)

[@dreamingofbonsai]

lots of great tips here! Thanks for this, Xavier! My dawn redwood has been pretty slow growing as well.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Each year we encounter different challenges - but overall, I have a had a pretty decent growth start to the year :)

[@dreamingofbonsai]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat I’m glad to hear!

[@mikec3820]

i clicked the bell for bonsai videos. but i stayed for the clips you stitch in. always fun. thanks xav!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

It is always a risk trying to be funny in thes esort of videos - but that is who I am. I have had quite a few confused people commenting because they skip and therefore miss whatever joke I had just made etc...

[@nerinat8371]

Great tips Xavier, much appreciated

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Nerina - the weather is pretty damp at the moment. We keep being threatened with spells of hot weather...but alas - Nada :(

[@greasylimpet3323]

Hi Xavier, I'm finding out how blisteringly hot your late spring is! Thanks for all those tips. It's great to see your trees too, they're looking lovely and healthy.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Overall the trees are probably in their best condition ever. I do have quite a few Dawn redwoods that missed the early spring sun and look very lush. Thanks for your support as always :)

[@MeadowViewBonsai]

Top stuff dude, the benches look awesome too

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Great to hear from you Darren - how are things with your collection?

[@MeadowViewBonsai]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Mine are going great, all survived the downpour of 24, our club (Bedfordshire Bonsai society) have been invited to join MKs show tomorrow so my desert island bonsai’s additions, the Duchess, Arthur and Danny are going on display as well as Nigel if they are selected. You should pop down as there should be a few clubs involved, get some footage, also if you need a brew, nip down mine one evening 🌳

[@suer666]

I agree some years are better than others. However my dawn redwood forest is doing well

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I definitely think these ones had too much early spring sun because my cuttings that were in the shade are looking great. Glad to hear yours are thriving too :)

[@davidparry2301]

Great video Xavier Lots of useful tips

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks David - always lots to do in the retreat :)

[@joegarland4885]

Useful tips for the next couple of months Xav, they are suggesting the summer is going to be a wet one, I hope not especially the 21st of June for the wedding of Richard and Jessica. There will be no trees on tables my friend.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Joe and I am sure you are looking forward to that wonderful day as much as Richard is :)

[@markjagger7139]

Thank for the summer pointers, I’ll be away for summer holidays so I’ll move my trees into the shade to save them from drought as my daughter will be looking after them.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I remember doing that with my son one year - he forgot to water on two days and 5 decent trees died...

[@markjagger7139]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat o dear, she’s been doing the veg for years so she’s very trustworthy fingers 🤞🤞🤞🤞

[@whitewolfIOM]

Good points and thanks

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I love your avatar and thanks for watching :)

[@malsrfun2956]

Great tips as usual. For those of us who aren't home all day, it sounds like organic soil finally gets a thumbs up, because watering twice a day is a stretch and, here in East Tennessee, USA we are likely to have 4 or 5 months ahead of 90 F temps.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Plant them in whatever works for your climate...thankfully we rarely have more than a few days of continual heat. Today is throwing it down again!!

[@raymondbirds2392]

Lovely job

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks for the support Raymond

[@DavesBonsai]

A ton of great info my friend!!!!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Dave - I've got a village craft show to prepare for tomorrow. They invited me last year and it was great fun so i am a 'featured' event this year :)

[@DavesBonsai]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat that’s very cool. Wish I could join you! 😊

[@AlexBraunton]

Brilliant and timely tips! Thank you Xavier

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Cheers Alex - still waiting for you to set a day!!!

[@BonsaiForRoman]

Good informative video 👍🏻

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Cheers my friend

[@KennetDeBondt]

Nice vid Xav

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Kennet

[@AFV85]

Beware 20c full sun for Sunday in UK 17c from today keep a crucial eye on water!

[@MeadowViewBonsai]

Not just the sun, a warm wind can dehydrate trees too.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

It's definitely the drying winds that cause me the big issues here but we can definitely do with a period of sun :)

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I produced some warm wind earlier...

[@MeadowViewBonsai]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat 🤣🤣🤣

[@AFV85]

Yes, I know, but I thought that was just obvious to us. Sorry for the miscommunication! Anyway, the forecast has changed again to pouring rain and high winds. England is in for a 30°C heatwave. It said that yesterday. I'm going to stop watching this weather forecast. Haha! Summer's gone here in Scotland anyway. Pouring rain and high winds all morning, scorching hot sun this afternoon dried everything out. I watered, and now the pouring rain and high winds are starting up again, and it will continue throughout tomorrow. 😂

[@davewatson3405]

Xavier.....do you move your Ficus outdoors for summer? North of England temps now high teens during day hours but still down to 8 or 9 C at night

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I have had mine out for the last 4 weeks. It has been a little cooler this year but mine are all looking really good for the fresh air. Once my daytime temps are regualrly above 14C i normally move them...they will come back inside in Sept/Oct.

[@davewatson3405]

Thanks for that, Xavier. Thoroughly enjoy your videos btw, nice to bring a little humour to bonsai too!

[@bonsaisn]

Hello ❤🎉

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Always happy to see your visit to my channel :)

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌🙂

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks bruce

[@maryoverton7245]

the nullarbor? really in england

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

It can get quite hot here...especially if I leave the oven on all night :)

[@maryweber4176]

Is it a good idea to let you have a torch?????

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

What can I say Mary :) The kids don't let me play with matches though...

[@maryweber4176]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Well then I hope you are not a smoker. Yikes!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

@@maryweber4176 Definitely not - gave up 20+ years ago

[@maryweber4176]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Good for you for quitting. I smoked a few times in high school, but only because I was a cheerleader, and cheerleaders were not supposed to smoke. (I was a rebel without a cause)

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

@@maryweber4176 Cheerleader...could you do the stuff that they seem to get up to now in these national competitions :)