In autumn, bonsai artists worry about the measures against the wind and flood damage by typhoons. In several years, Kagawa wasn’t hit by the heavy typhoons but they are busy getting prepared for typhoon when it brews. We interviewed Kiyoshi Hiramatsu, Seijuen bonsai garden in Takamatsu’s Kokubunji town, about the important points of the preparation for typhoon.

Care Weather Forecast

After brewing a typhoon, it will be some time to come to Japan. This is the important time.

Aganinst the heavy typhoon, you should move bonsai. It is better to move the small bonsai as Shohin, fruits and flowers indoor. If you use a tray, it will be strong against wind to put each pot closely. Against the flood damage by heavy rain, the shelves should be higher.

It is safer to remove Kanreisha, a shade cloth for protection against sunshine using from the end of the rainy season to autumn, because it is sometimes blown away by wind. But bonsai will be damaged to exposure to the sun suddenly, so it is better to do in a cloudy weather. If it is still hot after typhoon passed, it should be used again.

Tie Pot With String

Some bonsai garden grow bonsai on shelves. It is easy to get wind and sunshine but is weak against the strong wind by typhoon. Especially tall trees, trees in small pots, and trees in pots having foot will fall easily. The light shape trees like Bunjingi are also tumble easily.

The pots of large bonsai which can’t be moved are tied to stands with strings. When the wind is very strong, it is good to move pots to alongside the wall and fence to shelter from the wind.

Hiramatsu has some bitter experiences that his expensive pots were damaged by typhoons. He says, “I wake up a lot during the night when typhoon comes. I think it is important to get prepared early against typhoon.”

(By Shigeo Hano)