Bonsai Bench Height

[oakandwalnut]

Hello
Just wondering how high I should build my bonsai bench? I don't have any yet, and need to get my trees off the ground. Thanks!

 

[tmmason10]

Hello
Just wondering how high I should build my bonsai bench? I don't have any yet, and need to get my trees off the ground. Thanks!

I built one a few weekends ago out of pressure treated wood. It stands 3ft tall and I really like the way it turned out. If you click on the link in my signature there are pictures there.

 

[Zach Smith]

Around 30-36" from floor/ground level works well for most trees. My main benches are comprised of concrete blocks stacked on end two high, then a 2X4 cross piece and then deck boards. The blocks are 16" long, the 2X4 1.5" wide and the deck boards about an inch. Total height 34.5" give or take.

Zach

 

[Gene Deci]

One set-up I have seen that I really liked had the bench height higher than regular table height (I'm guessing four to four and a half feet ) under the theory that the trees look better when viewed from that perspective. My benches are three feet and I find myself often bending my knees when I look at my trees to avoid looking down on them. You might want to consider that.

 

[Poink88]

It depends on your height and the size of your trees. Based on that, think of your convenience and build accordingly. You might need to find a happy medium if you have mixed sizes.

 

[berobinson82]

I built one a few weekends ago out of pressure treated wood. It stands 3ft tall and I really like the way it turned out. If you click on the link in my signature there are pictures there.

Nice! Did you use plans or was this a fly-by-seat-of-pants construction?

 

[Poink88]

By the way, I use wire metal (chrome plated) shelving...it is cheap and descent enough. I think I paid around $40 per set of these (from Walmart) and I get 4 x 4 feet (16 feet of space) per pack. Not bad IMHO.

Sample photos as shown here...
http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?7700-My-plant-collection-(WARNING-picture-heavy)

 

[tmmason10]

Nice! Did you use plans or was this a fly-by-seat-of-pants construction?

Pretty much, looked at a lot of google pictures and whatever other pictures on forums I could find. I have a small amount of trees so it works for me for now.

 

[Mac In Oak Ridge]

I'd consider what I wanted the bench for. For display, a little higher, say 48". For a working surface something around 36".

 

[Ang3lfir3]

we have benches of differing heights... the shohin bench is at least 4.5' tall and is in a raised bed... so I can see them at eye level when looking at them ...

an important thing to consider is watering .... benches that are too tall will have to struggling to water properly ... those that are too low will have you watering the trees from above too much .... 33-36" seems to be a good comfortable compromise ... we have use the shorter benches for taller trees, etc so again it depends on what you are putting on it as well......

now to get the guy who builds my benches to come build 3 more .... running out of space (i should prolly learn to do it myself)

 

[gergwebber]

I go with the rule of complex compiled assortments, It reads:

[(avg length of scrap post/2){usually}+ [or not(freecinderblocks height and/or width)x*] + the width of free planks].

* X= the number separate levels of cider blocks deployed (but only if you deploy them the same direction, or else you have to add a factor for that dimension) This system has not failed me yet! And the great news is it all falls apart after about two seasons so I am free to clean/move and redesign them every other year

 

[Paradox]

Rather than build, I bought some heavy duty plastic shelves for mine. They might not be as visually pleasing as a wooden structure but they don't neeed to be painted and they don't rot.

I keep my trees out on my back deck and the shelves they are on are about 3.5-4 feet high mainly to keep them out of reach of my dogs who share the back yard. These shelves are also useful in that I can move them easily into the garage for winter protection for the trees that need it.