F.A.Q

Here you will find some of the most frequently asked questions & answers. If you cannot find the answer to a question you might have please get in touch.

Q: When are you open to the public?

We are open from 10am – 6pm*, 7 days a week from the 1st March until the 15th November. Including Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Last entrance to the Japanese Garden 5pm*.

* Earlier closing & last entry times after clocks change in October

Q: How much is entrance to the Garden?

Admission Prices –

Adults: £6.00

Children: £3.00 (3 – 16 years)

Concessions: £5.00 (Seniors (60+), Students (16 +), Disabled, NHS Staff & Armed Forces)

Babies/in buggies free

Shop & plant areas are admission free.

This year we will be offering Season Tickets for £12 – which will enable one person to visit the Japanese Garden as often as they like during our opening dates & times. Add a child to your ticket for £6.

See our Visit page for full details.

Q: How can we find you?

Please visit our Find Us page for directions & Map

Q: Is the garden wheelchair accessible?

Yes, 90% accessible with undulating gravel paths.

Wheelchairs with large wheels tend to travel more easily on the gravel than small wheeled designs.
The garden is relatively flat throughout (90%).

Q: Do you have a cafe & refreshments?

We do not currently have a cafe but watch this space as we are aiming to build one in the future. There are 3 venues very close-by to us that do serve food and drinks, within a 5 minute walking distance.

Q: Is there a car-park & is there a parking charge?

Yes there is a car park for visitors & there is no charge.

Q: Is there toilets?

We do not have toilets on site but the public toilets are just a few meters away from our car park entrance (less than a 2 minute walk).

Q: Do you allow dogs?

Dogs are not allowed in The Japanese Garden itself (except guide dogs*), but we are happy for well behaved dogs to visit our shop and nursery areas if on a lead.

* Therapy dogs are not allowed in the Japanese garden itself but are welcome in the shop and nursery if kept on a lead.

Q: Do you accept payments by debit and credit card?

Yes we do. We cannot accept American Express but most other debit and credit cards are fine to use. We do not accept cheques.

Q: What is the concept behind the Japanese Garden in Cornwall?

Please have a look at our Garden page for details.

Q: How has our business been made Covid-Safe?

Below is a list of precautions we have taken to ensure the safety of our customers and our staff:

• Perspex screens fitted around the counter areas
• Signage to inform customers about changes to the business
• Hand sanitizer available for staff and customers in the shop
• Soap located by the taps in both the Young Tree and Outdoor Bonsai Sections
• Anti-bacterial spray/wipes will be available for staff
• Customers will be provided with bags so they can package their own purchases – to reduce the contact
• Doors will remain open at all times – unless temperatures drop to an uncomfortable level
• A One-way system has been implemented at the time of visitors arrival – they will be served through the side window and they will enter the garden directly; without going through the shop
• One-way garden exit – the exit will bring visitors back to the shop via a new pathway and customers will exit out of the main double doors when they leave

Please see our Covid-19 Information page for more details.

Q: Do you still sell Bonsai trees & accessories?

Yes we do! The Bonsai Nursery is not gone by any means, we have just scaled down the number of outdoor Bonsai trees that we used to stock. We still sell a variety of trees, indoor & outdoor & some pots, tools & of course our Bonsai Compost.

*Free Entry Ticket Terms & Conditions *

Each ticket grants one individual one free entry to the garden. Please present the physical ticket at the counter to claim your free visit. Tickets cannot be exchanged for money or used for discount on purchases. A photograph of a ticket will not be accepted; the physical ticket must be presented at the counter to claim free entry. Please get in touch prior to your visit if you have any questions regarding your ‘Free Entry Ticket’.

Trees

Topics: Watering, Mist Spraying, Feeding, Compost, Repot & Root-Prune, Situation,

Watering

The best way to water a bonsai is to stand it in water, to just below the rim of the pot, for at least 10 minutes. This will ensure that the soil is fully saturated. Check the surface of the soil with fingertip daily, & when dry to the touch, stand in water again. Watering needs vary according to size of tree/pot, rate of growth, time of year & situation, however following this regime you will get to know the requirements of your trees. They need to be well watered, then allowed to drain, NOT kept fully saturated all the time – roots need air too to function well. In hard water areas use rainwater – a build up of lime in the soil is harmful.

Mist Spraying

Raising the humidity level is very important when keeping trees indoors, & mist spraying is an excellent method. WARNING – Beginners Beware – This will NOT water the tree but will moisten the surface of the soil. Check the surface with a fingertip BEFORE spraying, so you know when your tree needs watering properly again. Outdoors the British climate rarely necessitates additional moisture, however during dry spells mist spray as described. In all cases late afternoon or evening is the best time to spray, as strong sun on wet foliage causes damage both through glass & outdoors.

Feeding

Healthy trees thrive when given the additional salts, minerals & trace elements they need. However if your tree appears unwell stop feeding until the problem is resolved & it is growing vigorously again. We recommend the use of slow release organic fertilisers – dry granules that are rubbed into the surface of the soil & are slowly absorbed as required when the tree is watered. Assuming that the compost is good, one pinch per month should be ample, during the growing season. If you have an indoor tree that continues to grow well during the winter, you may continue to feed less frequently, but stop feeding when dormant or, as mentioned above, when poorly. There are numerous liquid feeds on the market & powders that are added to water. If you use these types of fertiliser do ensure that your tree is well watered before adding – liquid feed can burn roots if the soil is dry.

Compost

In general we use the compost that we make here for most types of tree [adding more grit for pines etc]. We have described its composition in our booklet entitled “Introduction & General Care of Bonsai”, which we wrote for first-time bonsai growers & give away free with every tree. Copies available on request for £1.00 + an A5 s.a.e. Good bonsai compost should contain plenty of horticultural grit to aid the development of feeder roots & ensure a good free-draining mix. Years ago we bought a ready-made bag of “bonsai compost” [so called] but were disappointed to find that it did not contain the necessary amount of grit, leaf mold etc.  This  prompted us to put our compost into bags for our customers. All gardeners say their own compost is the best & we are no exception!

Re-pot & Root Prune

We repot to provide fresh, fertile compost, to ensure that we maintain a healthy root system that has room to develop, and, or, to change the appearance / planting style. Trees grow fastest when young, the rate of growth slowing with maturity, so in general we repot the younger trees every 2 – 3 years and older trees as & when necessary. The best time to repot is early spring or late autumn when the tree is dormant, not in the spring / summer when it is growing fast and the roots need to be functioning at optimum. Now is the time to check the root system, and if there are roots winding round the pot tease them out gently and trim back. In this way you provide space for new roots to develop, promote more vigorous growth, and prevent the roots from choking themselves. Treat with care after repotting / root-pruning to minimise stress, particularly with indoor trees & other evergreens as they are still maintaining the top foliage albeit slowly. A little more shade, if usually situated in a very bright spot, will aid recovery.

Situation

All trees need plenty of light, and good air circulation. Outdoors protect from direct sun and wind. Indoors do not place too close to the window [especially when south- facing], where foliage can be burned through glass, or close to a source of heat, such as a radiator or television.

Problems

Most frequently problems arise when trees are not watered correctly, and, or, are badly situated. Following the notes above will rectify these difficulties simply and quickly. Pests such as greenfly can be eradicated by spraying with a proprietary insecticide available at most garden centres. However  trees can withstand pests like these in large numbers, so if you are experiencing serious problems the humble greenfly may not be the culprit. A poorly tree is more susceptible to damage by pests or fungal attack. Whilst I do not rule out the use of a pesticide or fungicide when absolutely necessary, I do recommend a thorough examination of the circumstances that may have led to a weakening of the tree prior to the infestation.