Joanie

If you search this forum, and the web, using "Chinese Elm" or "Ulmus" you will get a lot of information about them. There are several very good articles about how to train them, keep them, etc.

The feeder may or may not be a good idea, because it will keep the soil always wet. It is much better to look at the tree every day and see if it needs water or not. The feeder would be good if you go on vacation or something, or if your weather is so hot and dry that the tree would dry out while you are gone to work.

But it is better to let the top layer of soil dry out a bit, then water thoroughly so that it runs out of the drain holes, wait a minute or two, then water again. This flushes the soil free of salt and other mineral deposits, and allows oxygen to follow the water through the soil. Your elm may live with constantly wet soil but it may not do as well as it could if you learn to take care of it by hand. I like to use a chop stick, stuck into the soil, that you can pull out and feel the end. There is a thread here about that as well, search "chop stick soil" or something like that.

Good luck! Nice tree!

Joanie