Help me choose my work area location

[Jaberwky17]

I am lucky in the sense that I have a lot of room to choose from at my current home. I have cobbled together some shelving, do my work on the wooden picnic table or glass patio table, and sweep/wash the surfaces when I’m done. The trees can have full sun for ¾ of the day or full shade if I move them. Here’s where you come in. I can use some help in determining the best location for a workbench and display area. This can’t be a full blown bonsai workbench, and I’ve used downloaded sketchup models only as references. My reality will be far more utilitarian.

My house is rural, with full exposure to the prevailing summer winds, usually blowing from the south to east. Every day is windy – at least 5 mph, regularly 10-15 and 25-30 mph gusts are not out of the ordinary on non stormy days.

Option A is my back deck. It’s wood, raised from the yard by 2 feet and open on three sides. The house has windows and large sliding doors that look out onto it, and the deck has full southern exposure from mid morning until sunset in the summer. No morning light hits it due to the house being angled. Positives about the deck are

• Essentially ground level
• Hose connection
• Room on adjacent masonry area for larger training boxes, etc.
• Nice place to sit
• Logical location to entertain
• Good views from inside the house
• The location means I pass by dozens of times a day and can always see the trees
• It’s a “bonsai-ish” spot – with the stained wood and stucco, bonsai looks really nice out there.

Negatives are

• The larger the bonsai operation gets the less room for other deck activities
• Full sun means I’d have to erect a shading system. On 80-90 degree days it gets HOT
• Easy for people/pets to accidentally knock things over
• Some times not the quietest or most solitary place to be – busy family
• Closer to ground = easier for pests to have access
• The location means I pass by dozens of times a day and can always be distracted by the trees
• In stormy weather there is no protection from wind, hail, rain. Even a cover shade will get beat up
• Not very secure if someone chose to steal things

Option B is my “private” upper roof deck. It’s black rubber roofing membrane, sloped to drain and designed to be used. It has a large area that is fully shaded and protected from weather. There is a hose connection right there, and room to be 100% out of everyone’s way. We never use that area. I could get some morning light up there if I’m clever. Positives are:

• Hose connection
• Very good protection from elements
• Never any pets issues – they don’t go up there
• Plenty of room
• Good to see that spot get used – would add life to the area and we might start sitting up there
• Great spot to grow cuttings – protected, out of sun, can even add heat if needed
• Could create winter box up there if needed
• Can choose amounts of light for trees – would require minor movement on the roof
• Secure – nobody would ever mess with the trees unless they robbed the whole house
• Black surface and insulation could help create a warm zone later in the season

Negatives are:

• Everything must be carried up and through my bedroom
• The trees wouldn’t be viewed by anyone but my wife and I unless we brought people up
• Everything must be carried down for wintering. Could be ugly for large containers in the future
• Unless plants move – can be large block of shade from late morning to mid afternoon
• Can’t display very high due to 3 foot side walls
• Black surface creates higher temps in summer/bright sun

So what do you think? If you had to choose in a northern climate – what are the comments on my choices?

 

[Dav4]

If I had to choose between A and B, I'd vote for A...and personally, I consider being distracted by my trees to be a positive, so you might want to move that item to the other column. By the way, do you have enough yard space to consider having a group of shelves or stands off the deck, too? You could reserve the deck location for more finished trees, or just for periodic showing off to friends, while having a permanent grow space out in the yard. Playing with potted trees long term tends to be messy long term what with watering, soil, fertilizer, and foliage trimmings, etc., and I already clean my deck too often.

 

[JudyB]

For me, I've found out that one size does not fit all. I now have three areas, one sunny, one for partial sun with wind protection, and one for full afternoon shade. I can move all the trees if needed to the wind protected area, something that has helped me a great deal with leaf health. Could you create a hardscape structure, such as a bamboo or wood surround to help with that? I don't think the roof is a practical solution, getting it up and down, and winters will be much colder off the ground than on it. But could be a good summer display area. Maybe you could do your bench area down, and display up. I've found that having a portable work area ( portable turntable ) is great, cause I can move it around to the trees, and in and out of the sun for comfort.

Hope this helps.

 

[Paradox]

I agree with keeping the work area in the yard so you don't have to carry things through the house.
I bought a plastic potting bench and put it down off my deck, against the house and next to the hose.
That way it there is less mess and cleanup on the deck.

Displaying your better trees that are beyond the basic development stages on the upper deck might be an option if your worried about theft.

 

[GrimLore]

I would avoid the roof unless you plan on putting up some type of structure that would allow for sun, rain, and wind control. Now a nice vegetable and/or flower garden up there with a misting system would dress it up and make use of it at a far lower investment once setup.
We are still looking at a different house(s) but I am certain we will be building 4-7 separate areas that will be similar to Judy's setup(s) but more suited to our climate. There are many posts here on the subject and it may get your gears spinning in a pleasant direction. It seems to me that is probably a good size lot but you did not mention the size.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

use both spaces

Personally, I would use both spaces.

Ground level choice A would be for the bulk of the collection. It is the best choice for material that are works in progress. Also best choice for larger material. Definitely away from the house I would have a "growing bed" for young material not in finished pots, that you are growing out to size up.

All your work should be at the ground level workshop.

Up on the bedroom deck, you need to make it inviting for yourself, so you use it.

I would set up a modest size display/growing bench and use it for smaller size trees. You would then have less trouble moving them down for the winter.

In addition you can experiment with zone 3 (or colder) hardy trees (few, but they are around) and see what you can winter on the deck. Larches, ponderosa pine, jack pine - P. banksiana, a number of spruces and firs are very cold hardy, You might try wintering a few of these on the deck. You might even consider creating a winch/pulley dumb waiter arrangement to get supplies and stuff up and down without having to walk them through the house. Or is this over thinking it?

But if I were to choose only one, the downstairs location A is the logical choice for ease of access and keeping clean.