Bench placement @ New House

[Will.power49]

Over view - Bought my first home last winter. Coming into spring. I want to be ready with a permanent place for my bonsai trees . Last summer I had them up against the east side of my fence and they seemed to do really well there. No leaf burn on the maple. I had been keeping a very shallow water basin maybe 3/8th deep to monitor water evaporation. Only on the really hot days does it go bone dry. So I am thinking this will he my spot this year. But with better Benches.

Backyard layout - Back of house faces Due south . 6ft privacy fence on all sides. East side of fence has a row of trees on my neighbor's side about 25ft tall. Nothing else in my yard or surrounding yards to cast shade.

 

[Will.power49]

Something similar to this one in the link

Building a Bonsai bench - Bonsai Empire

After thirty years working with Bonsai I decided enough was enough – I needed a decent bench to display my ever growing collection of Bonsai. It took me a further three years to finally get round to

www.bonsaiempire.com

 

[bwaynef]

I enjoy my trees a lot more since I've gotten rid of a three-tiered shelf system. The top ones are so far away as to be cumbersome to access. The lower ones aren't at a good height to see. The middle ones are scrunched between the other two.

 

[BrianBay9]

Your current set up, then, gives your trees sun in the afternoon, shade in the morning? If I had to choose I'd reverse that. Morning sun will be gentler on things like J maples. Ideally you might set up benches along both sides and tailor the sun exposure to your tree species' needs.

 

[Hartinez]

I’m in Agreement with @bwaynef Multi tiered benches can look good but for the maintenance the trees require access is key. Also, when you start cramming trees together too closely air flow between the plants becomes an issue and potential fungus problems. Here is a thread entirely dedicated to people’s setups. Have a look and see if something inspires.

Show Us Your Bonsai Benches

I'm in a new house and going to be building some new benches soon. In the past I've done the standard board and cinderblock benches. Very functional and affordable, but would like to do something a little more attractive this time. Before I go get the lumber and start sawing, I thought I'd ask...

www.bonsainut.com

You may also want to consider as @BrianBay9 suggested multiple locations for benches, or even one area with long benches and a few monkey poles strategically built around your yard for more prominent and special specimen.

congrats on the home purchase!

 

[hinmo24t]

mine get an few hrs of dappled morning sun, a 2.5 hr shade session, then full sun from like 1130 am - night.

have to protect my maples better this year. like someone said, have a bench on each side can be nice for your plant's needs. im thinking of putting a patio/garden tree in line with the maple for afternoon sun or a different location altogether because she got crispy last year, and ill have 4 more of them this season to develop



nice property, enjoy!!

 

[PA_Penjing]

As mentioned, morning and afternoon sun are best. I would be VERY wary of branches falling from the trees above your current location. Windy days, rainy days, snow loads, termites, ants, squirrels, or simply branches getting shaded and dying could cause mayhem below. Might not happen this year or next, or even the one after, but at some point something is going to come down. Maybe I'm a paranoid parent but I don't like things above my trees

 

[hinmo24t]

GTI or rabbit?

 

[hinmo24t]

As mentioned, morning and afternoon sun are best. I would be VERY wary of branches falling from the trees above your current location. Windy days, rainy days, snow loads, termites, ants, squirrels, or simply branches getting shaded and dying could cause mayhem below. Might not happen this year or next, or even the one after, but at some point something is going to come down. Maybe I'm a paranoid parent but I don't like things above my trees

ive been playing this game w a massive oak above my setup! great points, true story, stuff is falling down all the time from the tree. might even destroy me, dog, or GF at some point (knock on wood)

 

[PA_Penjing]

Over the years on Bnut I've seen quite a few good trees get crushed by fallen branches and trees

 

[Will.power49]

GTI or rabbit?

GTI is the wife. I have a b5.5 wagon 1.8t and 81 1.6NA Rabbit

 

[Will.power49]

Your current set up, then, gives your trees sun in the afternoon, shade in the morning? If I had to choose I'd reverse that. Morning sun will be gentler on things like J maples. Ideally you might set up benches along both sides and tailor the sun exposure to your tree species' needs.

mine get an few hrs of dappled morning sun, a 2.5 hr shade session, then full sun from like 1130 am - night.

have to protect my maples better this year. like someone said, have a bench on each side can be nice for your plant's needs. im thinking of putting a patio/garden tree in line with the maple for afternoon sun or a different location altogether because she got crispy last year, and ill have 4 more of them this season to develop



nice property, enjoy!!

this pic was taken around 10.30 or 11. Maybe later into the after from Middle of the summer here in Ohio. I had the trees up near back of the house facing due south and it was to much for the trees. with no shade from 10.30 to 9pm all summer and the horrid inconsistent weather. There currently on the East side of the and get general sun until about 1 when it comes over the trees and starts to cool into Midwest evening. IDK

 

[Will.power49]

As mentioned, morning and afternoon sun are best. I would be VERY wary of branches falling from the trees above your current location. Windy days, rainy days, snow loads, termites, ants, squirrels, or simply branches getting shaded and dying could cause mayhem below. Might not happen this year or next, or even the one after, but at some point something is going to come down. Maybe I'm a paranoid parent but I don't like things above my trees

I have put some thought into issues with the trees. over the summer and Fall. So I shaved them put even more on my side of the fence and pulled out some of the larger branches coming off the sides. They are aspen/alder and Mayberry so they do get sticky but the branches aren't ever bigger then a finger. And I think I may not worry as much .

I’m in Agreement with @bwaynef Multi tiered benches can look good but for the maintenance the trees require access is key. Also, when you start cramming trees together too closely air flow between the plants becomes an issue and potential fungus problems. Here is a thread entirely dedicated to people’s setups. Have a look and see if something inspires.

Show Us Your Bonsai Benches

I'm in a new house and going to be building some new benches soon. In the past I've done the standard board and cinderblock benches. Very functional and affordable, but would like to do something a little more attractive this time. Before I go get the lumber and start sawing, I thought I'd ask...

www.bonsainut.com

You may also want to consider as @BrianBay9 suggested multiple locations for benches, or even one area with long benches and a few monkey poles strategically built around your yard for more prominent and special specimen.

congrats on the home purchase!

Due to landscape design and home resale in couple years having one area is going to the best route in this case. this way I can lay gravel down and make a nice area instead of spreading my self thin on several little things. If I had a larger yard I most definitely have a whole bonsai garden to enjoy my self in.

 

[Paradox]

Bench placement is really dependent on the species of tree you are keeping

Maples appreciate some protection from the heat of the afternoon sun
Pines and junipers want sun all day every day as much as you can give them.

You should position your benches according to thier needs as much as possible, not to whatever sense of order/aesthetic you have

 

[W3rk]

Your current set up, then, gives your trees sun in the afternoon, shade in the morning? If I had to choose I'd reverse that. Morning sun will be gentler on things like J maples. Ideally you might set up benches along both sides and tailor the sun exposure to your tree species' needs.

Really nice space you have to work with there, I'd love some fencing like that to keep the damned deer out. But I'm with BrianBay9 on this. I'd put them over by the fence on the right side so that you get morning sun and afternoon shade. And maybe have some alternate placement for different species with different requirements.

 

[Forsoothe!]

There are fewer trees that need shade than need full sun, for me at least. I have some very few mature trees in half day sun elsewhere, but still would like more all day sun than I have. Smaller pots with less field capacity are strategically placed on the lower decks to get more morning or more afternoon sun. My house's brick wall runs 340°/160° so the benches face 160°. Maybe you should make a list of probable candidates for your future and calculate the square footage of full sun verses partial sun.

 

[Cadillactaste]

You have some great advice going on above. I have a morning sun bench...and afternoon sun benches. Depends on the species where they go.

Congratulations on the new home by the way.

 

[hinmo24t]

There are fewer trees that need shade than need full sun, for me at least. I have some very few mature trees in half day sun elsewhere, but still would like more all day sun than I have. Smaller pots with less field capacity are strategically placed on the lower decks to get more morning or more afternoon sun. My house's brick wall runs 340°/160° so the benches face 160°. Maybe you should make a list of probable candidates for your future and calculate the square footage of full sun verses partial sun.View attachment 356814

another hosta grower? lower right? so many around where i am in MA

 

[hinmo24t]

GTI is the wife. I have a b5.5 wagon 1.8t and 81 1.6NA Rabbit

kickass. im a fan but im loving the toyota life now haha
(im going to in inherit -bittersweet- nice 72 Bug from my dad and put on airride
down the road and hit car shows again someday)

former 24v vr6 mk4 here. indigo blue, black burberry headliner

 

[Forsoothe!]

I screwed that up, the house wall runs 20°-200°, so the benches are facing 200°. 215° would be maximum sun (equal east & west with peak (longest) mid-day exposure.

Yes @hinmo24t, I have about 200+ Hosta varieties. If that sounds like a lot, I know people who have a thousand, and they can name all of them on cue.