Sunday, September 20 · 46 living trees · 22 species

The Almanac

Early FallSecond wind. Light work resumes as the nights cool.

1 follow-up is waiting on the caretaker.

Late DormancyEarly SpringMid SpringLate SpringEarly SummerMid SummerLate SummerEarly FallMid FallLate FallEarly WinterMid WinterLate WinterSeptemberDAY 263 · 365

Waiting on you · 1

Follow-ups that have come due — the garden keeps its promises in both directions.

  • Japanese Maple 6Other · Air layer added — Air layer added to topoverdue · 2025-09-15

What the season asks

Seasonal guidance for every species on the benches — open a card for the details.

Fertilization42 trees

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

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Azalea Satsuki

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

  • Satsuki Azalea 1

No prior Fertilize

Beech Copper

Low nitrogen fertilizer only.

  • Copper Beech 1

No prior Fertilize

Boxwood

Cease fertilization.

  • Boxwood 1
  • Boxwood 2
  • Boxwood 3
  • Boxwood 4
  • Boxwood 5
  • Boxwood 6
  • Boxwood 7
  • Boxwood 8
  • Boxwood 9
  • Boxwood 10
  • Boxwood 11

Last Fertilize: 3 months ago

Crabapple

Apply potassium-rich fertilizer to harden growth.

  • Hall's Crabapple 1

No prior Fertilize

Ginkgo

Cease fertilizing by mid-month to prepare for dormancy.

  • Ginkgo biloba 1

No prior Fertilize

Juniper Chinese

Switch to low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertilizer.

  • Chinese Juniper 1
  • Chinese Juniper 2
  • Chinese Juniper 3

No prior Fertilize

Juniper Creeping

Final feedings with potassium-rich fertilizer to harden growth.

  • Creeping Juniper 1

No prior Fertilize

Juniper Himalayan

Feed with low-nitrogen fertilizer to strengthen for winter.

  • Himalayan Juniper 1

No prior Fertilize

Juniper Procumbens

Low nitrogen to promote woody growth and hardening off.

  • Procumbens Juniper Nana 1

No prior Fertilize

Larch Japanese

Last heavy feeding of the year.

  • Japanese Larch 1

No prior Fertilize

Maple Bigleaf

Final feed of the season to build winter reserves.

  • Bigleaf Maple 2

No prior Fertilize

Maple Japanese Bloodgood

Final feed of the season to build winter reserves.

  • Japanese Maple 1

No prior Fertilize

Maple Japanese Coralbark

Final feed of the season to build winter reserves.

  • Japanese Maple 6
  • Japanese Maple 9

No prior Fertilize

Maple Japanese Sharp's Pygmy

Final feed of the season to build winter reserves.

  • Japanese Maple 2
  • Japanese Maple 3
  • Japanese Maple 4
  • Japanese Maple 5
  • Japanese Maple 7
  • Japanese Maple 8

No prior Fertilize

Maple Trident

Apply final feed of season to build reserves for winter.

  • Trident Maple 2

No prior Fertilize

Oak Canyon Live

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

  • Canyon Live Oak 1

Last Fertilize: 3 years ago

Redwood Dawn

Switch to low-nitrogen fertilizer to harden growth.

  • Dawn Redwood 1
  • Dawn Redwood 2
  • Dawn Redwood 3
  • Dawn Redwood 4
  • Dawn Redwood 5

No prior Fertilize

Spruce Blue

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

  • Colorado Blue Spruce 1
  • Colorado Blue Spruce 3

Last Fertilize: 3 years ago

Spruce Engelmann

Final low-nitrogen feeding to support root storage.

  • Engelmann Spruce 1

No prior Fertilize

Repotting1 tree

Not advised

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Juniper Creeping

Not advised.

  • Creeping Juniper 1

No prior Repot

Pruning42 trees

Cleanup dead material, avoid major cuts

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Beech Copper

Cleanup dead material, avoid major cuts.

  • Copper Beech 1

Last Prune: 5 months ago

Boxwood

Final pruning for shape and structure before dormancy.

  • Boxwood 1
  • Boxwood 2
  • Boxwood 3
  • Boxwood 4
  • Boxwood 5
  • Boxwood 6
  • Boxwood 7
  • Boxwood 8
  • Boxwood 9
  • Boxwood 10
  • Boxwood 11

Last Prune: 3 months ago

Crabapple

Remove unwanted shoots and suckers.

  • Hall's Crabapple 1

Last Prune: 4 months ago

Ginkgo

Remove unwanted suckers or late growth.

  • Ginkgo biloba 1

Last Prune: 5 months ago

Juniper Chinese

Clean up structure, remove weak interior shoots.

  • Chinese Juniper 1
  • Chinese Juniper 2
  • Chinese Juniper 3

Last Prune: 1 year ago

Juniper Creeping

Begin fall thinning and silhouette corrections.

  • Creeping Juniper 1

No prior Prune

Juniper Himalayan

Clean out dead or diseased interior foliage.

  • Himalayan Juniper 1

No prior Prune

Juniper Procumbens

Selective thinning of interior foliage.

  • Procumbens Juniper Nana 1

No prior Prune

Larch Japanese

Prune dead or damaged growth.

  • Japanese Larch 1

Last Prune: 1 year ago

Lilac

Remove suckers, root sprouts, and base growth.

  • Lilac Sensation 1

Last Prune: 4 months ago

Maple Bigleaf

Structural wiring/pruning before leaf color onset.

  • Bigleaf Maple 2

No prior Prune

Maple Japanese Bloodgood

Structural wiring/pruning before leaf color onset.

  • Japanese Maple 1

Last Prune: 4 months ago

Maple Japanese Coralbark

Structural wiring/pruning before leaf color onset.

  • Japanese Maple 6
  • Japanese Maple 9

No prior Prune

Maple Japanese Sharp's Pygmy

Structural wiring/pruning before leaf color onset.

  • Japanese Maple 2
  • Japanese Maple 3
  • Japanese Maple 4
  • Japanese Maple 5
  • Japanese Maple 7
  • Japanese Maple 8

Last Prune: 3 months ago

Maple Trident

Perform structural wiring and light pruning before leaf color.

  • Trident Maple 2

Last Prune: 3 months ago

Oak Canyon Live

Structural pruning can begin again as sap flow slows.

  • Canyon Live Oak 1

Last Prune: 3 months ago

Redwood Dawn

Remove unwanted summer shoots.

  • Dawn Redwood 1
  • Dawn Redwood 2
  • Dawn Redwood 3
  • Dawn Redwood 4
  • Dawn Redwood 5

Last Prune: 5 months ago

Spruce Blue

Only minor cleanup. Avoid stimulating new growth.

  • Colorado Blue Spruce 1
  • Colorado Blue Spruce 3

Last Prune: 4 months ago

Yew Japanese

Light shaping possible. Avoid heavy cuts.

  • Japanese Yew 1

Last Prune: 3 months ago

Wiring39 trees

Best time to wire structural branches

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Azalea Satsuki

Best time to wire structural branches.

  • Satsuki Azalea 1

Last Wire: 3 years ago

Boxwood

Last opportunity for wiring adjustments.

  • Boxwood 1
  • Boxwood 2
  • Boxwood 3
  • Boxwood 4
  • Boxwood 5
  • Boxwood 6
  • Boxwood 7
  • Boxwood 8
  • Boxwood 9
  • Boxwood 10
  • Boxwood 11

No prior Wire

Crabapple

Begin light wiring of new growth.

  • Hall's Crabapple 1

No prior Wire

Juniper Chinese

Plan rewiring; optimal as sap flow slows.

  • Chinese Juniper 1
  • Chinese Juniper 2
  • Chinese Juniper 3

No prior Wire

Juniper Creeping

Ideal time for wiring lignified branches—growth has slowed.

  • Creeping Juniper 1

No prior Wire

Juniper Himalayan

Good time to wire conifers—new growth has hardened.

  • Himalayan Juniper 1

No prior Wire

Juniper Procumbens

Begin wiring once summer heat breaks.

  • Procumbens Juniper Nana 1

No prior Wire

Larch Japanese

Light wiring of hardened branches.

  • Japanese Larch 1

No prior Wire

Lilac

Best time to wire lignified branches.

  • Lilac Sensation 1

No prior Wire

Maple Bigleaf

Optimal time for wiring with active sap.

  • Bigleaf Maple 2

No prior Wire

Maple Japanese Bloodgood

Optimal time for wiring with active sap.

  • Japanese Maple 1

No prior Wire

Maple Japanese Coralbark

Optimal time for wiring with active sap.

  • Japanese Maple 6
  • Japanese Maple 9

No prior Wire

Maple Japanese Sharp's Pygmy

Optimal time for wiring with active sap.

  • Japanese Maple 2
  • Japanese Maple 3
  • Japanese Maple 4
  • Japanese Maple 5
  • Japanese Maple 7
  • Japanese Maple 8

No prior Wire

Maple Trident

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

  • Trident Maple 2

No prior Wire

Oak Canyon Live

Wire lignified summer growth. Tree enters setting phase.

  • Canyon Live Oak 1

No prior Wire

Redwood Dawn

Wire lignified wood; avoid flexible young shoots.

  • Dawn Redwood 1
  • Dawn Redwood 2
  • Dawn Redwood 3
  • Dawn Redwood 4
  • Dawn Redwood 5

No prior Wire

Yew Japanese

Good time for fall wiring as branches lignify.

  • Japanese Yew 1

No prior Wire

Bud Shoot Management3 trees

Final shaping before dormancy

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Crabapple

Final shaping before dormancy.

  • Hall's Crabapple 1
Juniper Creeping

Pinch strong terminals; direct energy to weaker zones.

  • Creeping Juniper 1
Larch Japanese

Allow buds to harden for winter.

  • Japanese Larch 1
Pests Disease31 trees

Clean fallen leaves to prevent fungal spore buildup

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Azalea Satsuki

Clean fallen leaves to prevent fungal spore buildup.

  • Satsuki Azalea 1
Beech Copper

Watch for scale and mite populations.

  • Copper Beech 1
Boxwood

Check for late-season pests.

  • Boxwood 1
  • Boxwood 2
  • Boxwood 3
  • Boxwood 4
  • Boxwood 5
  • Boxwood 6
  • Boxwood 7
  • Boxwood 8
  • Boxwood 9
  • Boxwood 10
  • Boxwood 11
Crabapple

Watch for mildew and mites during transitions.

  • Hall's Crabapple 1
Juniper Chinese

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

  • Chinese Juniper 1
  • Chinese Juniper 2
  • Chinese Juniper 3
Juniper Creeping

Clean up fallen debris to reduce disease.

  • Creeping Juniper 1
Juniper Himalayan

Inspect for scale and spider mites. Treat proactively.

  • Himalayan Juniper 1
Juniper Procumbens

Fungal issues in rain; ensure drainage and airflow.

  • Procumbens Juniper Nana 1
Larch Japanese

Needle cast and fungal diseases possible.

  • Japanese Larch 1
Lilac

Sanitize foliage and soil surface.

  • Lilac Sensation 1
Oak Canyon Live

Clean up leaf debris and monitor for fungal pathogens.

  • Canyon Live Oak 1
Redwood Dawn

Watch for early mildew and remove leaf litter.

  • Dawn Redwood 1
  • Dawn Redwood 2
  • Dawn Redwood 3
  • Dawn Redwood 4
  • Dawn Redwood 5
Spruce Blue

Watch for late-season scale and fungal issues.

  • Colorado Blue Spruce 1
  • Colorado Blue Spruce 3
Yew Japanese

Clean up plant surface and remove any pests before cold.

  • Japanese Yew 1
Winter Protection16 trees

Plan for frost protection setup in coming weeks

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Ginkgo

Plan for frost protection setup in coming weeks.

  • Ginkgo biloba 1
Juniper Chinese

Begin evaluating sheltering needs.

  • Chinese Juniper 1
  • Chinese Juniper 2
  • Chinese Juniper 3
Juniper Creeping

Begin prepping overwintering space.

  • Creeping Juniper 1
Juniper Himalayan

Start assessing winter shelter needs.

  • Himalayan Juniper 1
Juniper Procumbens

Begin planning sheltering strategies.

  • Procumbens Juniper Nana 1
Larch Japanese

Prepare storage setup for winter.

  • Japanese Larch 1
Redwood Dawn

Begin planning cold protection setup.

  • Dawn Redwood 1
  • Dawn Redwood 2
  • Dawn Redwood 3
  • Dawn Redwood 4
  • Dawn Redwood 5
Spruce Blue

Begin prepping overwintering location.

  • Colorado Blue Spruce 1
  • Colorado Blue Spruce 3
Yew Japanese

Begin preparing cold frame or wind protection.

  • Japanese Yew 1
Summer Protection4 trees

Remove shade screens

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Juniper Creeping

Remove shade screens.

  • Creeping Juniper 1
Juniper Procumbens

Can be removed gradually.

  • Procumbens Juniper Nana 1
Larch Japanese

Remove shade cloths.

  • Japanese Larch 1
Oak Canyon Live

Remove shade cloths entirely.

  • Canyon Live Oak 1
Wound Management15 trees

Seal any new wounds

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Boxwood

Seal any new wounds.

  • Boxwood 1
  • Boxwood 2
  • Boxwood 3
  • Boxwood 4
  • Boxwood 5
  • Boxwood 6
  • Boxwood 7
  • Boxwood 8
  • Boxwood 9
  • Boxwood 10
  • Boxwood 11
Juniper Creeping

Clean and seal any late-season pruning.

  • Creeping Juniper 1
Juniper Himalayan

Treat any open cuts from cleaning or wiring.

  • Himalayan Juniper 1
Larch Japanese

Begin sealing off wounds for winter.

  • Japanese Larch 1
Oak Canyon Live

Seal cuts to avoid fungal ingress.

  • Canyon Live Oak 1
Deadwood Carving9 trees

Can be done now; wood is drying

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Azalea Satsuki

Can be done now; wood is drying.

  • Satsuki Azalea 1
Juniper Chinese

Excellent time for jin/shari; low sap movement.

  • Chinese Juniper 1
  • Chinese Juniper 2
  • Chinese Juniper 3
Juniper Creeping

Excellent time—sap is dropping, wood is drier.

  • Creeping Juniper 1
Juniper Himalayan

Safe window to resume jin/shari work.

  • Himalayan Juniper 1
Juniper Procumbens

Resumes as temps drop and humidity rises.

  • Procumbens Juniper Nana 1
Larch Japanese

Resume light work.

  • Japanese Larch 1
Oak Canyon Live

Can resume carving with care.

  • Canyon Live Oak 1
Propagation5 trees

Collect seeds

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Beech Copper

Collect seeds.

  • Copper Beech 1
Juniper Creeping

Collect seed or strike late cuttings if applicable.

  • Creeping Juniper 1
Juniper Himalayan

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

  • Himalayan Juniper 1
Larch Japanese

Collect seeds for stratification.

  • Japanese Larch 1
Oak Canyon Live

Take semi-hardwood cuttings if temperatures allow.

  • Canyon Live Oak 1
Development37 trees

Encourage woody maturation

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Boxwood

Encourage woody maturation.

  • Boxwood 1
  • Boxwood 2
  • Boxwood 3
  • Boxwood 4
  • Boxwood 5
  • Boxwood 6
  • Boxwood 7
  • Boxwood 8
  • Boxwood 9
  • Boxwood 10
  • Boxwood 11
Ginkgo

Allow new wood to harden off naturally.

  • Ginkgo biloba 1
Juniper Chinese

Finalize structure heading into dormancy.

  • Chinese Juniper 1
  • Chinese Juniper 2
  • Chinese Juniper 3
Juniper Creeping

Begin setting structure for next season.

  • Creeping Juniper 1
Juniper Himalayan

Reinforce branch positions with wiring or guy-wires.

  • Himalayan Juniper 1
Juniper Procumbens

Slow but useful for setting future growth.

  • Procumbens Juniper Nana 1
Larch Japanese

Pause active refinement.

  • Japanese Larch 1
Maple Bigleaf

Encourage hardening of summer growth.

  • Bigleaf Maple 2
Maple Japanese Bloodgood

Encourage hardening of summer growth.

  • Japanese Maple 1
Maple Japanese Coralbark

Encourage hardening of summer growth.

  • Japanese Maple 6
  • Japanese Maple 9
Maple Japanese Sharp's Pygmy

Encourage hardening of summer growth.

  • Japanese Maple 2
  • Japanese Maple 3
  • Japanese Maple 4
  • Japanese Maple 5
  • Japanese Maple 7
  • Japanese Maple 8
Maple Trident

Encourage lignification of new growth.

  • Trident Maple 2
Oak Canyon Live

Reassess silhouette for refinement.

  • Canyon Live Oak 1
Redwood Dawn

Evaluate structure post-season.

  • Dawn Redwood 1
  • Dawn Redwood 2
  • Dawn Redwood 3
  • Dawn Redwood 4
  • Dawn Redwood 5
Spruce Engelmann

Let tree harden off naturally, no forced dormancy.

  • Engelmann Spruce 1
Display5 trees

Good time to show mature trees with strong late-season silho

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Juniper Creeping

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

  • Creeping Juniper 1
Juniper Himalayan

Tree can be displayed outdoors in stable fall weather.

  • Himalayan Juniper 1
Juniper Procumbens

Best avoided during acclimation period.

  • Procumbens Juniper Nana 1
Larch Japanese

Brilliant yellow display period.

  • Japanese Larch 1
Oak Canyon Live

Display may resume briefly with autumn color if present.

  • Canyon Live Oak 1

Paths onward

CollectionThe Garden46 trees on their benches, by species or by rank.ReferenceThe Species LibraryA folio for every species the garden knows.The yearThe CalendarAll thirteen phases, every species, one turning wheel.
Mossy Spot · PNW · Zone 8bgrow slowly
Mossy Spot❧The Almanac
57° Clear · Early Fall
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