Chinese Elm - help wanted

weeijk

Hello,

This is my Chinese Elm, age unknown (imported material from China), height 50 cm, trunk diameter 5 cm.

What can/will be the future for this tree?

thanks for your reply's

W.

Attached Images

ulmus chinensis004 17-5-2005.jpg (73.2 KB, 297 views)

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BonsaiGreenhorn

Throughout the growing season (assuming you're in yours in the netherlands) keep on trimming for ramification a tight patches. I see a very nice canopy in the future of this tree.

Also, eventually in a nice oval whitish-greenish shallow pot (in the future). Thats just an idea thought, all your choices.

Best of Luck!
Hope this was helpful.
-Evan

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Ashbarns9999

Nice trunk movement. If this really were my tree next spring i would repot into an oval blue glazed pot but bare root to assess why i would need to retain those roots to the right which to me are offensive. Next i would turn the trunk slightly anti-clockwise to show me the first branch is leaving at the right angle. Get rid of the shoots under no.1 branch. Wire no.1 down cut out branch no.2 wire down branch no.3 clip this season like a hedge bearing in mind the future tree. You could probably start the wiring and no.2 cut now. You could go really drastic and chop just above the first branch to recreate everything but that is longer term. I now give you back your baby with my best wishes and respect.
Ash

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pootsie

I'm with Ash. I don't know about "offensive," but those roots on the right need to have something done.

Perhaps the planting angle can be titled in that direction? (along with a few years of trimming and repositioning?)

Then, of course, you'd have to rework the branches a LOT also.

FWIW
pootsie

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pootsie

Wessel:

I owe you a virt, as I just couldn't manage to do anything with that larch I promise to do a virt of.

So, here's a quick sketch of what I was saying with this tree.

FWIW,
pootsie

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Wessel Wirt2 copy.jpg (37.9 KB, 117 views)

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weeijk

I think that those roots are nessecery for the tree, when I would radically cut them, there will probably be dieback of a branch or two

shoot under branch 1 is removed, branch 2 is the back branch (see side photo), so I dont think it should be cut, then I'll lose the dept in the tree. I wired some of the branches, but need to cut some twigs in the fall, cause a lot of them of them are crossing.

This really would be drastic, but can be done when ever I think it would be better than carrying on with the tree as it is now.

I hope I gave the tree a better look, with the future in mind?

waiting for some more reply/critisism/suggestions,

cheers Wessel

Attached Images

	ulmus chinensis005 20-5-2005.jpg (71.6 KB, 61 views)
	ulmus side.jpg (70.7 KB, 37 views)

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Ralph

Remember, if you are in the height of your growing season, you can trim your branches all the way back to a leaf pair, but you want to cut back to a leaf that is growing in the direction you want that branch to go. This will increase ramification. I think the top style is workable, just need to get it more developed and lush. Maybe you can consider a ground layer to fix the root issues. Remember what Thomas J. says about a 5 year plan to have your Chinese elm ready for show. Yours can be one real nice looking elm in that time.

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rockm

"I think that those roots are nessecery for the tree, when I would radically cut them, there will probably be dieback of a branch or two"

I think you might be giving them too much credit. They don't appear to be doing much supporting of the tree, as they would be much thicker and substantial if the tree were reliying on them heavily.

The best thing to do is inspect them at the next repotting --which should be next year. They absolutely need to be sorted out for this tree to continue on its training path. If left alone, the problem will get worse and the tree will never be terrific.

At the next repotting, trace the offending roots until they split into feeder roots. If there are a substantial number on the end--like half the rootball--you can thin those by half. If there are only a few--which is most likely as the roots appear to be relatively thin--cut the entire root back by half or three quarters, or until they no longer appear as a tangled mass above the soil surface.

If the tree's life depended on these roots, they would be much much thicker. These roots can be taken off as buds begin to swell next spring with no ill effects to top growth. Elms are extremely hardy and can take alot of root reduction.

weeijk

Hi all,

Yesterday I had my trainings night. During this training I pruned back the Elm completely. All up and down, all crossing and all other wrong twigs or branches were pruned back. With the frase "less is more" which one of my bonsaimates often speak out, the Elm is now in this state.
The wrong root on the right can hopefully be removed next year at repotting. Were probably the pot will be changed to a light blue oval one.

I'm pleased myself, that I had the courage to do this, but......did I do a good job?

Thanks in advance for your input, suggestions and critics.


Cheers Wessel

Attached Images

	ulmus chinensis006 10-6-2005.jpg (71.2 KB, 83 views)
	ulmus side1.jpg (70.8 KB, 43 views)

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