SF Bay Area Suggestions 

By Mr. Umehara

November

Early Month

Conifers
1. Continue the work started last month.  Pull old needles, cut back,
and wire.
2. Transplanting:  some transplanting can still be done in the bay
area, but the trees must be protected from cold winter frost.

Black Pine
1. In the "short needle" propagation, the needles on the new candle
(the second candle of the year) should be fully opened by now.  Remove
old needles, apply the final fertilizer of this year.
2.  The pines scheduled for the "short needle" propagation next year
should begin to reduce this year's needle (not all at once, but in
different stages).  This will produce stronger buds for next year.

Deciduous Trees
1.  The wires should be removed.  Overgrown branches should be cut back.
2.  For  maples, trident maple, beech, birch and elm, the period between
the foliage turning to crimson and falling off is the best time to do the
heavy cutting back and the wiring.

Shimpaku, Apple, and Karins
Now is the best time to transplant

Mid Month

Satsuki Azalea
This is the season to enjoy the Satsuki foliage in color.  Cut overgrown
branches, reduce dense foliage and shape.  0-10-10 should be applied as
the final fertilizer for this year.

Citrus
Move the trees to the warm area to protect them from frost damage.

Grass Materials
Do not remove withered leaves; they will protect roots until spring.

Later Month

Preparing the New Year Bonsai
Black pine, ume, and bamboo, which have been trained in a separate pot
for saikei and some other accent materials are needed.  Arrange them as
you wish, whether in the pine will be the main tree or the ume will be
entirely up to the individual.  Indoor display should be limited to a
couple of days at a time.  Don not display in a heated room.

Dormant Spray
The first spraying should be scheduled sometime during the later part of
November. Chemical dilution for the first spray should be as follows:

Tree Type       Ratio   When
Deciduous       20-1    Half of the foliage still remain
Conifers        30-1    End of November - beginning of December

1.  Check for soil dryness the day before spraying.  The soil should be
moist.
2. Cover the pot with newspaper to protect moss and pot from
lime-sulfur damage.
3. Do not use lime-sulfur to spray ume.
4. Do not spray trees to be displayed in an exhibit within the next few
weeks.