grass

peanuts1gang · White Belt Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 30

if i plant grass at the bottom of my bonsai will the grass rob the bonsai of nutrients. like will the grass take all of the nutrients from the soil and water?
if so what could i do to change this from occurring? Question

GioGio · Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 4:03 pm Post subject: Re: grass

It seems reasonable to think that if sharing the same pot they also share the same water and fertilizer. As both the tree and the grass will be absorbing moisture, the soil will dry out a lot quicker. To counteract this, I definitely think you should be watering a little more often ; I'm not so sure about fertilizing, although I don't think it would cause a major problem to the tree, providing you are fertilizing regularly. Hope this helps.

Giogio

Pappa · Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 5:24 pm Post subject: Re: grass

I don't know to what extent this is relevant, but I've read that weeds growing around the base of a bonsai tree will improve the appearance of age in the bark on the trunk. The only thing to watch is that the weeds do not grow higher than the first branch, so they don't shade the leaves and effect growth.

Pappa

StaceyR · Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 5:29 pm Post subject: Re: grass

It's according to what you mean by grass. Some people plant accent plants in the pot with their bonsai.

Stymie · Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 7:18 pm Post subject: Re: grass

To put my two pennyworth in here, I'd say don't do it.

steve · Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 1:02 am Post subject: Re: grass

I also agree that it is a bad idea. At the very least the grass and tree roots will become hopelessly tangled. It will block your view of the soil completely. And it may choke off the tree and kill it. I doubt it would take long to over grow the pot.