Chinese Elm: Leaf Question

Thaddeusjd

I have a chinese elm that is about five years old. It was a "rescue tree" as it was a gift from someone who bought it for me from the back of a van at a roadside bonsai stand. It was pretty well root bound and the tap root is actually thicker than the trunk. It was repotted and it is on a slight west exposure, it gets direct sun after noon for about five hours, and indirect sun for the rest of the day. I am using a soil moisture tester and watering when it gets to around 4, and it has biogold fert on the surface and gets weekly Superthrive. The question is, some of the leaves are turning yellow and falling off. And this is a regualr event, leaves grow, turn yellow and fall off. But the tree is growing and budding very nicely. So, is this a leaf issue I should be concerned with? Or is it mearly leaf growth outstripping the roots ability to support them?

-James

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bonsaial1

The tree may have had a light case of 'scale' last month. Scale is a small hard shelled bug that looks just like the bark of an elm. It lives in the crothches of where the small branches split off from one another. Last month was the high point for scale and it was probaly worse this year then others due to weird weather.

The tree should be past that even if you did nothing about it. You probably had some die back and as a result had some weak parts on the tree. As long as it is producing buds and the leaves are un-rolling, I wouldn't worry about it. Start to mildly fertilize next week and all should be well.

Bonsai-al

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Tony

This tree is outside right? Did the tree go dormant last winter and lose it's leaves or are these the old leaves that are falling? If possible I would also switch it around so it will get direct morning sun and some filtered light in the afternoons.

Tony

TreeBay

Which leaves yellow and fall? The newest, or the oldest?

Regards,

Matt

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Thaddeusjd

1) The tree is outside, I have only had it since about April, so I don't know if it has been overwintered outside.
2) I have noticed scale on my osteomeles and brush cherry and I am using a mild insecticide soap on them, I may use it on the elm now, just in case.
3) It is the larger older leaves that are turning yellow and falling off. along with some of the medium sized newer ones. The smaller, newer leaves are not.

-James