EARLY SPRING IN ROCHESTER, NY

Early spring has arrived in Rochester, New York

The predicted low temperatures for the next several weeks "should" be above 28F, so that means that many of my bonsai were returned to their outdoor growing tables until next autumn. That is unless the temperatures drop below 20F. Usually the trees are outdoors by now, but this spring has been chilly.

It's important to move bonsai outdoors BEFORE the buds swell and open so they will break dormancy in the full sun. If they leaf out in dark areas the new growth will be weak. Even if it is removed in late spring or early summer the vigor will not be the same.

All of the bonsai have been maintained at about 27F so they are used to low temperatures. Large evergreen bonsai as well as deciduous bonsai with tight buds were placed outside in full sun locations.

Deciduous species with opening or enlarged buds did not go outdoors, but remain in the garage in the evenings and are moved outdoors during the daytime.

Let's all hope the weather will hold, at least for awhile.

Bill


First bonsai out for the season


More bonsai outdoors


Deciduous dormant vegetative buds able to withstand low temperatures.



Opening vegetative buds which will be damaged by low temperatures.

Mr.Valavanis,

always impressive. Interesting how buds breaking out look the same the world over. My no local name, red of leaf tree is budding with leaf and flower.
Thanks for showing.
Khaimraj

Bill,

Thanks for the springtime tip; with the information you provided, hopefully others won't learn the hard way as I did last year in spring. The bottom line is that the new spring leaves are very fragile and should be kept above freezing.

I am planning on bringing my trees out on the benches by the first week of April (when night-time temp. will have stabilized above 33F). Until then the night-time temperature is forecasted from mid 20F to upper 20F in Chicago.

Thanks for the pics Bill! I look forward to the full bloom pictures!

Thanks Bill,

I've been doing what you're doing on a much much smaller scale Moving Japanese maples that decided to leaf out in early March in and out of the basement. Thankfully, the persistent cold weather has kept most of the other trees in check. I have never trusted early March warm ups and try to keep everything as cold as possible for as long as possible, with an eye to having them break in early to mid April. Sometimes that happens, sometimes it doesn't...

I have said to a few folks that I was glad this year that we have avoided the early March warm up that caused such consternation Last season. I remember Bill's thread from last spring with all those trees that had to get moved out, then moved back in, every night. I suspect most of us up this way were doing that little dance too, I sure was.

Don't get me wrong, I cant wait for spring, I just want it to really be sure of itself once it decides to show up.

-Jay

Kay

I'm still expecting to "dance" during the month of April...

Atleast my dance will be a shorter one since I don't have that many trees.

It's the same in the UK ... snow & frost and Easter is almost upon us.

William N. Valavanis wrote:Kay

I'm still expecting to "dance" during the month of April...

Bill, thanks for photos and as usual quite helpfull tips!

Once I insulated my country house two years ago, my cellar in the house that I used to overwinter my trees became too warm I guess and trees now swell buds and start growing already in late February - early March the time here when the spring is still too far away. Last winter I tried for bigger trees an underground vault in an unheated hut, but tridents surely didn't like it, apparently it was too cold for them there. It seem I need to think about new large underground cellar not too warm, not too cold....

How cold can it be at night in April in your place?

All the best,

Andrei

Bill, more photos please

Andrei,

April is the transitional month in Rochester between winter and spring and is different each year. Some of our largest and heaviest snowfalls (over 3 feet) have occurred in April, and May too. I remember our spring bonsai club show held on Mother's Day weekend (second Sunday in MAY) when we had 4 inches of heavy wet snow.

Although our "normal" low temperatures in April "should" be around 30F they often dip to the low to mid-20sF, not too good for deciduous species with young tender opening foliage.

Bill


APRIL a few years ago....

I have no excuse not to drive the 45ish min down i90! Your trees are amazing! I've been learning a lot from reading your posts on here and watching a few videos on YouTube. I've become addicted to maples and their distinct leaves. I can't wait until your Autumn Bonsai Festival.