Outdoor Evergreen Bonsai
Outdoor evergreen bonsai are a wonderful choice for anyone who wants to enjoy their tree as part of a garden, patio or outdoor space. Unlike deciduous trees, evergreens retain their foliage throughout the year, providing colour, structure and interest in every season.
Popular outdoor evergreen bonsai include varieties such as Juniper, Pine, Yew and Pyracantha’s. Although individual species have slightly different requirements, the following provides a useful general guide to caring for an outdoor evergreen bonsai.
Why we love outdoor evergreen bonsai
Evergreen bonsai have a classic, traditional bonsai appearance and can become increasingly impressive as they mature. Their year-round foliage, rugged trunks and interesting branch structures give them a strong sense of age and character.
They are particularly rewarding because you can watch the tree develop through the seasons while enjoying its greenery throughout the year.
Strong, characterful and beautiful all year round, an evergreen bonsai makes a fantastic addition to any outdoor space.
At a glance
- Position: Outdoors throughout the year
- Light: Bright position; requirements vary by species
- Watering: Water when the soil begins to feel slightly dry
- Feeding: Feed during active growth
- Pruning: Depends on the individual species
- Winter: Keep outdoors but protect the roots during severe or prolonged frost
- Repotting: Depends on species, age and growth rate
- Foliage: Evergreen, with some natural seasonal shedding of older foliage
Outdoor evergreen bonsai care
Position
Outdoor evergreen bonsai should be kept outside throughout the year.
Choose a position with plenty of natural light and good airflow. The amount of direct sunlight required will vary depending on the particular species, so always check the care information provided with your tree.
Although these trees are naturally suited to outdoor conditions, bonsai pots provide less insulation than the ground. Some additional protection may therefore be required during periods of extreme weather.
Outdoor bonsai should not be permanently kept inside the home. Indoor conditions can interfere with their natural seasonal cycle and may weaken the tree over time.
Watering
Water your bonsai when the soil begins to feel slightly dry.
Check the soil regularly, particularly during warm, sunny or windy weather when a small bonsai pot can dry out surprisingly quickly.
When watering, thoroughly soak the soil until water runs freely from the drainage holes.
Never allow the soil to completely dry out, but avoid keeping it permanently waterlogged. Don't rely on a fixed watering schedule — check the soil and your tree regularly instead.
During hot summer weather, your bonsai may require watering every day, while during cooler periods it will generally require considerably less.
Feeding
Feed your evergreen bonsai regularly during periods of active growth using a suitable bonsai fertiliser, following the instructions supplied with the product.
Spring through to early autumn will generally be the main feeding period, although requirements can vary between species.
Reduce or stop feeding when the tree is dormant or growth has significantly slowed.
Pruning
Pruning requirements vary considerably between different evergreen species.
Regular maintenance can help preserve the shape of your bonsai and encourage healthy development, but Pines, Junipers, Yews and other evergreens shouldn't necessarily be pruned in exactly the same way.
Always check the care instructions for your particular species before carrying out significant pruning.
Dead or damaged growth can be carefully removed when appropriate.
Winter care
Outdoor evergreen bonsai need to experience the natural seasons, including the colder winter months, and should not normally be brought into a heated house for winter.
Most established outdoor evergreen species can tolerate cold conditions, but their roots are more exposed in a bonsai pot than they would be growing naturally in the ground.
During severe or prolonged frost, protect the pot and root system. A sheltered position, cold frame or other suitable protection can help during particularly harsh conditions.
Continue checking the soil throughout winter. Your bonsai will generally need less water, but it should never be allowed to completely dry out.
Repotting
Outdoor evergreen bonsai need repotting periodically to prevent the roots from becoming overly congested and to refresh the growing medium.
How frequently this is required depends on the species, age and growth rate of the tree. Younger, vigorous bonsai generally need repotting more frequently than mature specimens.
The ideal time for repotting also varies between species, so we recommend following the specific guidance supplied for your particular bonsai rather than repotting simply because a set number of years has passed.
Always use an appropriate free-draining bonsai soil.
Seasonal changes
Although evergreen bonsai retain foliage throughout the year, this doesn't mean every leaf or needle will remain permanently green.
Older foliage can naturally yellow, brown and fall from the tree as it is replaced by newer growth. Some evergreen species can also change colour slightly during colder weather.
A small amount of older foliage changing colour is therefore not necessarily a cause for concern. However, widespread or sudden browning should be investigated.