Everything Bonsai

Ground Cover Choices

The goal of most bonsai artists is to emulate nature, while at the same time stylizing it.

This effort extends beyond the caring and shaping of the tree itself to every element of the display. That includes ground cover.

But with little effort the bonsai enthusiast can expand the choices to include...

deadwood, ground cover plants, or even entirely artificial miniature sculpture.

These, too, occur in natural settings in Japanese gardens.

A popular choice is a plant whose common name is Baby Tears.

With small, round, green leaves and a penchant for spreading rapidly, it makes for an easy to start and maintain ground cover for many styles of bonsai.

It's also attractive in its own right.

Ground cover helps to keep moisture from evaporating from the soil too rapidly and Baby Tears perform this function well. In fact, over time it can perform it a little too well. Take care not to let the Baby Tears overwhelm the design.





It's rapid spread and thorough ground covering can result in a mass of leafy tendrils lopping over the sides and spilling down onto the display table.

But, the tree should always remain the central focus of any effort.

Baby Tears can be especially prone to distracting the viewer, since its delicate flowers provide color that attracts the eye.

It's best used, therefore, with non-flowering bonsai, unless your goal is to create a deliberate color contrast.

Another native Japanese plant that complements a bonsai tree well is the Dwarf Mondo grass.

It is a perennial evergreen, meaning that it only needs to be planted once and with proper care will stay green year-round. Some evergreens do brown up slightly in winter, but come back to full color in spring.

Dwarf Mondo does very well in medium-wet, well-drained soil and so is perfect for application to bonsai design. The grass is used in full-sized gardens, as well. It doesn't tolerate full sun well, though, so be sure to keep the pot in a shady area.

Since Dwarf Mondo grass spreads by underground tubers, you will need to examine under the surface every few years.

During re-potting of the bonsai is a perfect time to ensure that it isn't taking over space needed for the bonsai tree roots.

Remember, too, that a certain amount of sunlight penetrating into the soil is healthy.

That provides the warmth and radiation necessary to stimulate growth.

As a human example, moderate sunlight helps stimulate the production of Vitamin D in skin cells. So, limit the grass area so that it doesn't cover the ground entirely.

These are just two of the many choices available to heighten the beauty of your bonsai design, while at the same time enhancing the health of the tree.

Emulating nature, with an artistic flair, is both lovely and practical!



Artificial Ground Cover Choices

Adding moss or other living ground cover to your bonsai design can result in a beautiful complement to your tree. Or, it can be a distraction

But that needn't mean it must be the only thing the audience looks at every moment.

You can add pictorial elements that provide balance and interest without overwhelming the scene.

One means of achieving that goal is to add sculptural items around the ground beneath the tree branches.

Some are cheesy - miniature Buddha have been way over done.

But some are elegant, tasteful and even beautiful in their own right.

Deadwood is a popular choice, and for good reason. Gnarled bits of wood add a natural looking element, while at the same time many are a delightful combination of art and artifice.

Curved branches of the same species help lend a natural appearance in miniature - the goal of every bonsai design.

Take care when using deadwood, however, that it doesn't become a source of potential disease or decay in the tree or other ground cover.

Even tree branches long dead can break down, as they do in nature, and add to the soil.

Most of the time that's harmless. But, over-wet deadwood of certain types can support the growth of fungus and soil bacteria.

A mixture of lime and sulphur will bleach the wood and kill most common types that could be troublesome.

That bleaching may not be suitable for all types, however, for esthetic reasons.

In this case it's possible to counter the effect by using coffee grounds or stain.

Armillatox is an effective herbicide, with anti-bacterial, fungicidal properties.

But many wood stains also contain compounds that do more than simply change the wood's color. Many kill organisms.

There are other, more artificial-looking but still beautiful, items that can be added to your bonsai design. Buddha statues may be overdoing it, but a small ceramic or stone sculpture can add a wonderful touch.

There are literally hundreds of choices, everything from a small tiger to a completely abstract shape with colors that highlight rather than detract from the tree.

A tiny ladder leaning against the trunk of a miniature fruit tree adds a comic touch. While most bonsai artists will avoid miniature human figures, a pebble-sized ceramic frog can be more than just an artistic addition.

In Japanese lore, frogs are said to bring good luck.

Of course the pot itself can be, and often is, a design element.

Pot selection in bonsai design is a course by itself, but a few basics can be mentioned.

The shape should be appropriate for the species and design, and the color and material should work with not against any ground cover elements.

If you have flat-texture stones or sculpture and subtle wood elements on the ground, a highly colorful and shiny pot will clash with them.

Let your imagination roam. Every bonsai design is as unique as the designer.

Good Luck and Happy Gardening!