Cjr future garden

[Cajunrider]

Seeking inputs for bonsai garden design. Here is the back yard as is now. Picture in standard orientation. N is at top. Scale is at bottom.
Budget is $3-4K. Current grass area will stay for grand babies to play. Garden will be the perimeter, I think. Currently quite a bit of the shaded area on the East side is the vegetable garden.
My key question is which side of the yard should be used for bonsai garden for the best sunlight and winter protection.

 

[gooeytek]

I would pick the spot right by the NE corner of the house.

 

[shohin_branches]

How much space does your collection take up at your current home?

Do you have any photos of the back deck (or patio hard to tell) looking out to the yard?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

the best sunlight and winter protection

These two rarely go together, high sun area means less protective structures and nice winter protection means more protective structures.
But if you plant some hedges, yew, hedera or something like ilex or thuja, you might be able to get both a wind breaker as well as something that doesn't block sunlight. And the benefit of localized higher humidity.

 

[Cajunrider]

How much space does your collection take up at your current home?

Do you have any photos of the back deck (or patio hard to tell) looking out to the yard?

A jam packed 20x70 area. About 200 pots.
No photo yet.

 

[namnhi]

A jam packed 20x70 area. About 200 pots.
No photo yet.

Hi Uncle, Would be interesting to see a drone cam of your backyard. Grandkids will grow up... grassy area looks too big to leave it be.

 

[shohin_branches]

What hardiness zone will you be in at your new house?

 

[Cajunrider]

What hardiness zone will you be in at your new house?

7a I believe.

 

[Patience is an Art]

I believe you’re moving to PA? Don’t know what time of day this pic was taken, but my grow beds are on the south side at the edge of the woods. Gets a little morning sun, a bit of late afternoon sun, and protection from both heat of the day and winter winds. (No protection from the deer though ). Trees are very happy there.

I say keep the yard for the grandkids! The more space they have the less trees they hit with balls!

 

[HENDO]

View attachment 557014I believe you’re moving to PA? Don’t know what time of day this pic was taken, but my grow beds are on the south side at the edge of the woods. Gets a little morning sun, a bit of late afternoon sun, and protection from both heat of the day and winter winds. (No protection from the deer though ). Trees are very happy there.

I say keep the yard for the grandkids! The more space they have the less trees they hit with balls!

Cool project! Yes it would be helpful to know:
-What state this will be in
-How much of your collection is native to LA vs elsewhere
-If/What you plan on collecting where you're moving to

 

[Cajunrider]

Cool project! Yes it would be helpful to know:
-What state this will be in
-How much of your collection is native to LA vs elsewhere
-If/What you plan on collecting where you're moving to

Pennsylvania
90%
Native trees of PA/NorthEast and Japanese Pines and Maples. Right now I am thinking small number of these but you know how crazy I am.

 

[Dav4]

Fwiw, my trees have never overwintered in the same spot as during the growing season. My goals for overwinter space are focused on keeping the trees dormant for as long as possible. If outside, that means on the ground and in the shade. With that in mind, the north/ east sides of the house might work.

 

[Paradox]

I dont have all my trees in the same spot because the best spot is species dependent
Pines and juniper want sun all day every day
Deciduous can benefit from morning sun and afternoon shade during the hottest part of the day or they get scorched
Azalea also like a little morning sun and afternoon shade
Also Veggies like full sun

The best spot for winter is along the foundation of the north side of the house. Second best is east side.
You never want trees wintering in full sun

 

[Maiden69]

My take, BC/JBP and trees with no need for protection together, then JM/JWP and other sun tolerant trees, and on the S/SE area trees that don't tolerate direct sunlight or that thrive in dappled sun / understory trees.

 

[Cajunrider]

My take, BC/JBP and trees with no need for protection together, then JM/JWP and other sun tolerant trees, and on the S/SE area trees that don't tolerate direct sunlight or that thrive in dappled sun / understory trees.

View attachment 557064

So we are taking over the whole yard!
I like your plan!

 

[Maiden69]

So we are taking over the whole yard!
I like your plan!

That's my take... LOL. I made the boxes big enough to write on. If you didn't need the area for the rugrats I would use the entire backyard for trees.

 

[Cajunrider]

Next question: Gravel or mulch for the ground? My experience of having grass under the benches has been less than desirable.

 

[Paradox]

Next question: Gravel or mulch for the ground? My experience of having grass under the benches has been less than desirable.

I've done gravel and I've switched that to paving stones. Easier to keep the weeds down

 

[Dabbler]

good weed barrier, Large paving stones mixed with gravel in-between - NEVER mulch, it's ton of maintenance you don't want

 

[Maiden69]

I agree with the no mulch. I used that on the previous garden and weeds grew over it as if it was potting soil. I am going with decomposed granite on my new home, they have that stuff here at work and it is so compacted that anything that grows on it can easily be taken care of. In the area for the garden I may use large pavers for the heavy traffic zones.