Do I need shade cloth?

[Walldepartment]

I am planning on planting a bunch of trees in the ground in the spring for bonsai. I am wondering if I need shade cloth. There will be a variety of species, both Asian and American. They are all supposed to be good for my zone, but would shade cloth be beneficial for any of them? For example, look at this Zelkova.


It’s mostly doing fine, but some of the leaves appear damaged? And branches from the lower part of the tree have died off somehow. It’s supposed to be heat tolerant. Would it have done even better with a shade cloth over it?

 

[sorce]

I don't know if it's cause someone brought it up recently that I'm noticing it more, but without a full picture, we don't know if that thing is even in a pot. Exposed, or planted in poo, it could go yellow.

Depending on your entire yard scenario, and what else you keep, a cloth may be required. As one more thing to maintain, I'd skip weak Maples and the cloth.

Sorce

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I would think that most species that normally grow in sun, would continue to need sun. I would figure elms, all pines, spruce, bald cypress, flowering trees, all would need full sun, even in Alabama. If you work with native species, it in the wild, they need full sun, then they will need full sun as bonsai.

There are some non-native & forest species that might need a little shade, for example Japanese maples are notorious about being sensitive to full sun.

But I would say that 90% of the trees you could get, will need full sun. Maybe plan for a small corner of your collection to be shaded.

@Brian Van Fleet grows excellent bonsai in Alabama, perhaps he would give you some guidance.

 

[AlainK]

There are some non-native & forest species that might need a little shade, for example Japanese maples are notorious about being sensitive to full sun.

Zelkova is now planted as a street tree, has been for the past ten years or so, and some of them are about 8 m tall, with no leaf scortch in spite of the very dry and hot summer we had (up to 40°).

I have a big one planted some 20 years ago, and now that it's established, it stands the sun pretty well.

But when potted, you'd better put it in dappled shade and make sure the soil doesn't get dry.

 

[Walldepartment]

Ok. Sounds like a no on the shade cloth, unless a species is sensitive to it. The Zelkova is in the ground by the way.

 

[AlainK]

The Zelkova is in the ground by the way.

The longer you keep it in the ground, the better it can handle hot weather. Did you put a tile, or anything like that to have the roots spread ?

Zelkova in the ground can rocket in their second/third year. Once the roots are established, they can have shoots at least 3-4 feet long in a couple of weeks... Watch it !

 

[Walldepartment]

The longer you keep it in the ground, the better it can handle hot weather. Did you put a tile, or anything like that to have the roots spread ?

Zelkova in the ground can rocket in their second/third year. Once the roots are established, they can have shoots at least 3-4 feet long in a couple of weeks... Watch it !

It is currently on top of a CD. I can’t remember exactly how old my zelkova is. It’s been in the ground at least two years. I think it’s over 3 feet tall.

 

[sorce]

It might also be less expensive for you to.....

Build a shade wall!

Sorce

 

[Shibui]

And branches from the lower part of the tree have died off somehow.

It is completely normal for lower branches to die off as trees grow. Apical dominance means that all the growth is concentrated in the topmost branches because most plants are in a race to become the tallest in the forest. Using resources to maintain lower branches is a waste to them.
Zelkova is an elm which means it can sprout new shoots from old, bare wood so even if the lower branches die (and they probably will if you let the top continue to grow freely) you can eventually chop the trunk and be confident that new shoots will emerge so you can grow new apex and branches.
Some species are not reliable for new shoots so they need to be grown and maintained differently.

You may have seen that I am not a big fan of leaving trees in the ground for the entire growing time. IMHO roots, trunk and branching are far better when the trees are lifted and pruned occasionally through the ground growing phase.