Help! How can I make more room for my trees?

[Bretts]

I have painted myself into a corner at the moment and hope some one can give me some ideas on how to make more room for my trees.
Here are a few snaps of the problem. Any ideas?

yard 001.jpg

yard 002.jpg

bench3.jpg

yard 004.jpg

yard 005.jpg

yard 006.jpg

yard 007.jpg

yard 008.jpg

yard 009.jpg

yard 010.jpg

yard 011.jpg

yard 012.jpg

I was thinking about a few monkey poles in front of the pond. I have about four big grow boxes on the decking around the pond that if I could find another spot for I should just squeeze the rest in but I am running out of ideas.
Thanks for any help

[Bougy Fan]

Fill in the pool and make it into a bonsai display area. You can sell it to the family as being waterwise

[Bretts]

With three young kids it is tempting as it scares the hell out of us but I think moving might be a better option

[Pup]

With three young kids it is tempting as it scares the hell out of us but I think moving might be a better option

CUT down on the trees. Coz when you move you cant bring most of them with you.

[paddles]

cull...

[nealweb]

Paddles is right, you either need less trees or less lawn but less trees would be easier and neater

[Craig]

Hi Brett, you seem to have plenty of room in your yard, all you need to do is build some nice benches in select locations. I don't think you have too many trees for the amount of yard you have Brett. The Pergola area could be changed to accomadate at least 3 rows of benches and you could either have other benches or monkey poles around the rest of the area...

[Mitchell]

I see atleast three seperate areas, where space is lost in transistion. I think intergrating the three may be the option, whilst also creating room in the process. I'm only on my lunch break atm, but with virt it tonight.

[Andew09]

I think you've got more than enough room. you just need to be smart about how you use it. there seems to be plenty of unutilized space and areas which haven't been layed out in the most productive ways.

go on nearmaps.com and get an aerial view of your yard. try and scale it so you can measure up areas and layout areas better. otherwise just sketch over it and try and configure something that works for the trees, the yard, the family and light orientation.

otherwise post up an aerial and let the people have their say!!

Andy

[Scott Roxburgh]

cull...

I agree, I'm doing the same and it feels great to give trees away...

[Jamie]

instead of trying to create more space why dont you grow smaller trees??

[Gerard]

I say the lawn has to go, it has been interfering with the bonsai for way too long

Next time I visit Bolac bonsai nursey I should take a photo, he has been known to invite people to climb the ladder and look at the pines he has growing on the roof of his shed.

[miyagiman]

Make some portable benches, that way you can move them around to suit your needs without anything being permanent, if you move, you can take it all with you. It worked for me. miyagiman.

[Mitchell]

If you continue the awning round, then use a low fence (perhaps from screening material/bamboo) you would be creating a nice "walk in and thru" feeling of a space rather than 3 entities.

Awesome setup, wish I could do something like what you have.

[Bretts]

With three young kids it is tempting as it scares the hell out of us but I think moving might be a better option

CUT down on the trees. Coz when you move you cant bring most of them with you.

Paddles is right, you either need less trees or less lawn but less trees would be easier and neater

I have real trouble getting rid of trees. I have given some away when possible which I don't mind so much. Gave almost a dozen large gums away to be planted out on Pol's farm at the beginning of Winter because they had been hidden under the mop top all season and it was lucky most where still alive. But I have real trouble throwing them on the rubbish heap. Just yesterday I held up a finger thick trident that had self seeded in the garden and siad look Danica I am going to throw this out. She was very impressed
But I was very over trying to find room for all the crap/stock trees and know I just have no room left.
Last year I considered doing a live auction for ausbonsai members. Best bid by the end of the day gets the tree mailed to them bare root Since I am inbetween work at the moment that sounds like a good idea agian.

I had a pithagy moment the other day before I started this work Pup. What the hell am I doing planning all this work for when I want to move
In the end I figured as long as I keep in mind my bench area might come in use as a great BBQ area when I leave then it is only work
The only ones I have found any real trouble bringing over (apart from the recent Native ban) is the JBP and I am still in discussions with that, as if needle cast is already in WA I see no reason mine can't come over as well.

Hi Brett, you seem to have plenty of room in your yard, all you need to do is build some nice benches in select locations. I don't think you have too many trees for the amount of yard you have Brett. The Pergola area could be changed to accomadate at least 3 rows of benches and you could either have other benches or monkey poles around the rest of the area...

I see atleast three seperate areas, where space is lost in transistion. I think intergrating the three may be the option, whilst also creating room in the process. I'm only on my lunch break atm, but with virt it tonight.

I think you've got more than enough room. you just need to be smart about how you use it. there seems to be plenty of unutilized space and areas which haven't been layed out in the most productive ways.

go on nearmaps.com and get an aerial view of your yard. try and scale it so you can measure up areas and layout areas better. otherwise just sketch over it and try and configure something that works for the trees, the yard, the family and light orientation.

otherwise post up an aerial and let the people have their say!!

Andy

I sarcastically said a few times today "who was the idiot that built that pond there"
After spending almost $200 to lift and finish off my main bench area I feel my budget is blown. (not counting what I spent in previous years) That was just for some wood posts gravel, bolts and screws I was keen on a few monkey poles and maybe a better tiered bench in the shade house could help and now I see I could add a new lower level on the new front bench but I am a little over spending money. Maybe even a bench against the outside of the shade house fence. Most of my trees are in nursery pots and just need room to splay out.
I am still on the hunt for a potting bench. Saw a massive stainless bench on Face book for $50 that would have been perfect but bloody thing was sold.

instead of trying to create more space why dont you grow smaller trees??

That is where I started today Jamie. Although my cotoneaster and firethorn where growing great in their recovery pots and felt another year in them would have been great. I decided to downsize their pots which has helped alot. Plus they will now be much easier to work on. Also up for the chainsaw treatment was my English elm raft. I managed to cram it into a cheap bonsai pot so all three have freed up heaps of space. I also shoved a few olives down the side of the house. Not the perfect spot for them but they will survive well until I am ready to work on them.

I say the lawn has to go, it has been interfering with the bonsai for way too long



Next time I visit Bolac bonsai nursery I should take a photo, he has been known to invite people to climb the ladder and look at the pines he has growing on the roof of his shed.

Love to see the pics Gerard as it has crossed my mind. Hmm now with a couple of wines in me that sounds very promising