The Calendar

Boxwood11 on the bench

Water sparingly; soil should dry slightly between watering.

Japanese Maple 'Sharp's Pygmy'6 on the bench

Gradually reduce watering frequency.

Dawn Redwood5 on the bench

Reduce watering as temperatures drop.

Chinese Juniper3 on the bench

Reduce frequency as temperatures drop.

Colorado Blue Spruce2 on the bench

Reduce frequency slightly; avoid letting the rootball dry out.

Coralbark Japanese Maple2 on the bench

Gradually reduce watering frequency.

Bigleaf Maple1 on the bench

Gradually reduce watering frequency.

Canyon Live Oak1 on the bench

Reduce frequency slightly as temps drop. Maintain even moisture.

Copper Beech1 on the bench

Less frequent but thorough.

Creeping Juniper1 on the bench

Water less frequently as evapotranspiration slows.

Engelmann Spruce1 on the bench

Adjust frequency to match decreasing temperatures.

Ginkgo biloba1 on the bench

Gradually reduce watering frequency.

Hall's Crabapple1 on the bench

Reduce slightly as temperatures drop.

Himalayan Juniper1 on the bench

Reduce frequency slightly with cooler temperatures, but avoid dry soil.

Japanese Larch1 on the bench

Reduce gradually; avoid soggy soil.

Japanese Maple 'Bloodgood'1 on the bench

Gradually reduce watering frequency.

Japanese Yew1 on the bench

Check every few days. Soil drying slows.

Lilac Sensation1 on the bench

Adjust to weather. Ensure soil doesn’t stay soggy.

Procumbens Juniper Nana1 on the bench

Ease back slightly as temps drop. Maintain even moisture.

Satsuki Azalea1 on the bench

Reduce frequency slightly. Avoid keeping roots soggy.

Trident Maple1 on the bench

Gradually reduce watering frequency; allow soil to dry slightly.

Canadian Hemlock

Water consistently as temps drop. Hemlock dislikes dry spells.

Common Pear

Reduce watering frequency as growth slows, but avoid drying out.

Dwarf Jade

Gradually reduce frequency as light and temps drop. Avoid watering if temps fall below 55°F.

European Hornbeam

Water sparingly; allow soil slight drying.

European Smoketree, AKA Venetian Sumach

Reduce frequency slightly as growth slows.

Japanese Barberry

Reduce frequency; allow slight drying between waterings.

Sawara Cypress

Adjust downward; avoid overwatering as temps drop.

Boxwood11 on the bench

Cease fertilization.

Japanese Maple 'Sharp's Pygmy'6 on the bench

Final feed of the season to build winter reserves.

Dawn Redwood5 on the bench

Switch to low-nitrogen fertilizer to harden growth.

Chinese Juniper3 on the bench

Switch to low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertilizer.

Colorado Blue Spruce2 on the bench

Cease fertilizing by mid-month to allow wood to harden.

Coralbark Japanese Maple2 on the bench

Final feed of the season to build winter reserves.

Bigleaf Maple1 on the bench

Final feed of the season to build winter reserves.

Canyon Live Oak1 on the bench

Apply final round of low-nitrogen fertilizer to promote hardening.

Copper Beech1 on the bench

Low nitrogen fertilizer only.

Creeping Juniper1 on the bench

Final feedings with potassium-rich fertilizer to harden growth.

Engelmann Spruce1 on the bench

Final low-nitrogen feeding to support root storage.

Ginkgo biloba1 on the bench

Cease fertilizing by mid-month to prepare for dormancy.

Hall's Crabapple1 on the bench

Apply potassium-rich fertilizer to harden growth.

Himalayan Juniper1 on the bench

Feed with low-nitrogen fertilizer to strengthen for winter.

Japanese Larch1 on the bench

Last heavy feeding of the year.

Japanese Maple 'Bloodgood'1 on the bench

Final feed of the season to build winter reserves.

Procumbens Juniper Nana1 on the bench

Low nitrogen to promote woody growth and hardening off.

Satsuki Azalea1 on the bench

Apply final round of low-N fertilizer to support bud set.

Trident Maple1 on the bench

Apply final feed of season to build reserves for winter.

Common Pear

Do not fertilize. Let tree harden off naturally.

Dwarf Jade

Cease feeding by end of month.

European Hornbeam

Stop fertilization.

European Smoketree, AKA Venetian Sumach

Stop feeding by mid-month.

Japanese Barberry

Stop fertilization to prepare for dormancy.

Sawara Cypress

Apply final zero-nitrogen fertilizer if needed.

Creeping Juniper1 on the bench

Not advised.

Sawara Cypress

Still inappropriate.

Boxwood11 on the bench

Final pruning for shape and structure before dormancy.

Japanese Maple 'Sharp's Pygmy'6 on the bench

Structural wiring/pruning before leaf color onset.

Dawn Redwood5 on the bench

Remove unwanted summer shoots.

Chinese Juniper3 on the bench

Clean up structure, remove weak interior shoots.

Colorado Blue Spruce2 on the bench

Only minor cleanup. Avoid stimulating new growth.

Coralbark Japanese Maple2 on the bench

Structural wiring/pruning before leaf color onset.

Bigleaf Maple1 on the bench

Structural wiring/pruning before leaf color onset.

Canyon Live Oak1 on the bench

Structural pruning can begin again as sap flow slows.

Copper Beech1 on the bench

Cleanup dead material, avoid major cuts.

Creeping Juniper1 on the bench

Begin fall thinning and silhouette corrections.

Ginkgo biloba1 on the bench

Remove unwanted suckers or late growth.

Hall's Crabapple1 on the bench

Remove unwanted shoots and suckers.

Himalayan Juniper1 on the bench

Clean out dead or diseased interior foliage.

Japanese Larch1 on the bench

Prune dead or damaged growth.

Japanese Maple 'Bloodgood'1 on the bench

Structural wiring/pruning before leaf color onset.

Japanese Yew1 on the bench

Light shaping possible. Avoid heavy cuts.

Lilac Sensation1 on the bench

Remove suckers, root sprouts, and base growth.

Procumbens Juniper Nana1 on the bench

Selective thinning of interior foliage.

Trident Maple1 on the bench

Perform structural wiring and light pruning before leaf color.

Canadian Hemlock

Light cleanup pruning acceptable.

Dwarf Jade

Minimal—focus on cleanup only. Complete final shaping by mid-September to avoid disrupting energy hardening.

European Hornbeam

Final structural pruning before dormancy.

European Smoketree, AKA Venetian Sumach

Only minimal shaping to reduce wind drag or balance.

Japanese Barberry

Last structural pruning before dormancy.

Sawara Cypress

Light clean-up; remove spent growth.

Boxwood11 on the bench

Last opportunity for wiring adjustments.

Japanese Maple 'Sharp's Pygmy'6 on the bench

Optimal time for wiring with active sap.

Dawn Redwood5 on the bench

Wire lignified wood; avoid flexible young shoots.

Chinese Juniper3 on the bench

Plan rewiring; optimal as sap flow slows.

Coralbark Japanese Maple2 on the bench

Optimal time for wiring with active sap.

Bigleaf Maple1 on the bench

Optimal time for wiring with active sap.

Canyon Live Oak1 on the bench

Wire lignified summer growth. Tree enters setting phase.

Creeping Juniper1 on the bench

Ideal time for wiring lignified branches—growth has slowed.

Hall's Crabapple1 on the bench

Begin light wiring of new growth.

Himalayan Juniper1 on the bench

Good time to wire conifers—new growth has hardened.

Japanese Larch1 on the bench

Light wiring of hardened branches.

Japanese Maple 'Bloodgood'1 on the bench

Optimal time for wiring with active sap.

Japanese Yew1 on the bench

Good time for fall wiring as branches lignify.

Lilac Sensation1 on the bench

Best time to wire lignified branches.

Procumbens Juniper Nana1 on the bench

Begin wiring once summer heat breaks.

Satsuki Azalea1 on the bench

Best time to wire structural branches.

Trident Maple1 on the bench

Fall wiring ideal—cambium still workable and leaves show ramification.

Canadian Hemlock

Begin fall wiring session.

European Hornbeam

Adjust wiring cautiously as branches set.

European Smoketree, AKA Venetian Sumach

Consider light wiring as wood begins to harden.

Japanese Barberry

Perform final wiring adjustments.

Sawara Cypress

Can begin fall wiring; tree still flexible.

European Smoketree, AKA Venetian Sumach

Natural leaf drop beginning; do not interfere.

Creeping Juniper1 on the bench

Pinch strong terminals; direct energy to weaker zones.

Hall's Crabapple1 on the bench

Final shaping before dormancy.

Japanese Larch1 on the bench

Allow buds to harden for winter.

European Smoketree, AKA Venetian Sumach

Observe and mark dormant buds for spring structure.

Sawara Cypress

Done.

Boxwood11 on the bench

Check for late-season pests.

Dawn Redwood5 on the bench

Watch for early mildew and remove leaf litter.

Chinese Juniper3 on the bench

Look for rust or scale; apply systemic treatments if needed.

Colorado Blue Spruce2 on the bench

Watch for late-season scale and fungal issues.

Canyon Live Oak1 on the bench

Clean up leaf debris and monitor for fungal pathogens.

Copper Beech1 on the bench

Watch for scale and mite populations.

Creeping Juniper1 on the bench

Clean up fallen debris to reduce disease.

Hall's Crabapple1 on the bench

Watch for mildew and mites during transitions.

Himalayan Juniper1 on the bench

Inspect for scale and spider mites. Treat proactively.

Japanese Larch1 on the bench

Needle cast and fungal diseases possible.

Japanese Yew1 on the bench

Clean up plant surface and remove any pests before cold.

Lilac Sensation1 on the bench

Sanitize foliage and soil surface.

Procumbens Juniper Nana1 on the bench

Fungal issues in rain; ensure drainage and airflow.

Satsuki Azalea1 on the bench

Clean fallen leaves to prevent fungal spore buildup.

Canadian Hemlock

Clean benches and remove leaf litter.

Common Pear

Final pest check. Remove any diseased or damaged leaves.

European Hornbeam

Inspect for late-season pests.

European Smoketree, AKA Venetian Sumach

Clean debris and remove any infected leaves.

Japanese Barberry

Check for late-season pests.

Sawara Cypress

Clean foliage and inspect for scale, blight.

Canyon Live Oak1 on the bench

Remove shade cloths entirely.

Creeping Juniper1 on the bench

Remove shade screens.

Japanese Larch1 on the bench

Remove shade cloths.

Procumbens Juniper Nana1 on the bench

Can be removed gradually.

European Smoketree, AKA Venetian Sumach

Remove shading structures.

Dawn Redwood5 on the bench

Begin planning cold protection setup.

Chinese Juniper3 on the bench

Begin evaluating sheltering needs.

Colorado Blue Spruce2 on the bench

Begin prepping overwintering location.

Creeping Juniper1 on the bench

Begin prepping overwintering space.

Ginkgo biloba1 on the bench

Plan for frost protection setup in coming weeks.

Himalayan Juniper1 on the bench

Start assessing winter shelter needs.

Japanese Larch1 on the bench

Prepare storage setup for winter.

Japanese Yew1 on the bench

Begin preparing cold frame or wind protection.

Procumbens Juniper Nana1 on the bench

Begin planning sheltering strategies.

Canadian Hemlock

Plan protection strategy.

Common Pear

Begin planning cold protection. Move tree to sheltered location late in phase.

European Hornbeam

Prepare for colder months.

European Smoketree, AKA Venetian Sumach

Begin transition to protected area for containerized trees.

Sawara Cypress

Stage protection for upcoming freezes.

Boxwood11 on the bench

Seal any new wounds.

Canyon Live Oak1 on the bench

Seal cuts to avoid fungal ingress.

Creeping Juniper1 on the bench

Clean and seal any late-season pruning.

Himalayan Juniper1 on the bench

Treat any open cuts from cleaning or wiring.

Japanese Larch1 on the bench

Begin sealing off wounds for winter.

European Hornbeam

Seal recent cuts.

European Smoketree, AKA Venetian Sumach

Avoid cuts that won’t callus before frost.

Sawara Cypress

Minor work OK.

Chinese Juniper3 on the bench

Excellent time for jin/shari; low sap movement.

Canyon Live Oak1 on the bench

Can resume carving with care.

Creeping Juniper1 on the bench

Excellent time—sap is dropping, wood is drier.

Himalayan Juniper1 on the bench

Safe window to resume jin/shari work.

Japanese Larch1 on the bench

Resume light work.

Procumbens Juniper Nana1 on the bench

Resumes as temps drop and humidity rises.

Satsuki Azalea1 on the bench

Can be done now; wood is drying.

Canadian Hemlock

Dry wood is easier to work now.

European Smoketree, AKA Venetian Sumach

Good window for dry-carving in cooler weather.

Sawara Cypress

Very good season—cool, dry wood workable.

Canyon Live Oak1 on the bench

Take semi-hardwood cuttings if temperatures allow.

Copper Beech1 on the bench

Collect seeds.

Creeping Juniper1 on the bench

Collect seed or strike late cuttings if applicable.

Himalayan Juniper1 on the bench

Late cuttings possible but lower success. Air layering may begin.

Japanese Larch1 on the bench

Collect seeds for stratification.

European Smoketree, AKA Venetian Sumach

Seed collection from fertile flowers possible.

Sawara Cypress

Nothing new started.

Boxwood11 on the bench

Encourage woody maturation.

Japanese Maple 'Sharp's Pygmy'6 on the bench

Encourage hardening of summer growth.

Dawn Redwood5 on the bench

Evaluate structure post-season.

Chinese Juniper3 on the bench

Finalize structure heading into dormancy.

Coralbark Japanese Maple2 on the bench

Encourage hardening of summer growth.

Bigleaf Maple1 on the bench

Encourage hardening of summer growth.

Canyon Live Oak1 on the bench

Reassess silhouette for refinement.

Creeping Juniper1 on the bench

Begin setting structure for next season.

Engelmann Spruce1 on the bench

Let tree harden off naturally, no forced dormancy.

Ginkgo biloba1 on the bench

Allow new wood to harden off naturally.

Himalayan Juniper1 on the bench

Reinforce branch positions with wiring or guy-wires.

Japanese Larch1 on the bench

Pause active refinement.

Japanese Maple 'Bloodgood'1 on the bench

Encourage hardening of summer growth.

Procumbens Juniper Nana1 on the bench

Slow but useful for setting future growth.

Trident Maple1 on the bench

Encourage lignification of new growth.

Common Pear

Transition from active work to observation and cleanup.

Dwarf Jade

Pause major training work.

European Hornbeam

Promote woody maturation.

European Smoketree, AKA Venetian Sumach

Development pauses; enter maintenance mode.

Japanese Barberry

Focus on wood maturation.

Sawara Cypress

Review silhouette and pad structure.

Canyon Live Oak1 on the bench

Display may resume briefly with autumn color if present.

Creeping Juniper1 on the bench

Good time to show mature trees with strong late-season silhouette.

Himalayan Juniper1 on the bench

Tree can be displayed outdoors in stable fall weather.

Japanese Larch1 on the bench

Brilliant yellow display period.

Procumbens Juniper Nana1 on the bench

Best avoided during acclimation period.

European Hornbeam

Enjoy autumn leaf color.

European Smoketree, AKA Venetian Sumach

Attractive autumn foliage for show or photography.

Japanese Barberry

Display autumn foliage colors.

Sawara Cypress

Good season for local shows.