New Chinese Elm Stock Tree

Treebeard

Hi all,

Here is my latest acquisition. The cost was £37.50.
The dimensions are: 2.5" diameter at the line, 18" high from rim to top.

I have tried to look beyond the awful roots to the tree that it will end up looking like in 2-3 years time.

The existing trunk chop is easily carvable, so that is not a problem really.

The favourite option at the moment is a layer as indicated in the picture.

Second option is carve a large piece of tufa to fit under the overhang and up the side on the right, and some heavy pruning on the roots at the left.

Third is leave it alone.

Fourth is firewood...

If I layer, I will get a nice short thick trunk with a nice rounded canopy, just like the oaks, beeches etc that grow in open spaces round here.

Any thoughts and views anyone?

Regards,

TB

Attached Images

new elm.jpg (54.2 KB, 752 views)

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Treebeard

here is a close up of the roots, (with a PG certificate, bit scary)

Attached Images

new elm roots.jpg (53.1 KB, 585 views)

__________________
"Do not be hasty, that is my motto"
-JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers.
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Carl_Bergstrom

Treebeard,

I'll probably take a bit of heat for this, but I actually don't think that the root base is a total disaster. Admittedly I don't like some of that secondary root grown on top of the other roots, as shown in the second picture. But the overall movement of the roots seems quite reasonable. In fact, I rather dig it in a sort of "leaning tree" style Penjing way.

The problem is that the trunk comes up ramrod straight out of this sinuous rootbase, making for an incongruous image. What do to about that?

Perhaps one could take the tree back down to the lower branches, get a lot of movement there, and leave the majority of the rootbase.

Any ideas from the peanut gallery?

Alternatively, the layer that you suggest would make for a very nice if somewhat cookie-cutter broom style tree.

Best regards,
Old Mister.

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Carl_Bergstrom

A super-quick and unrefined virtual to give you the idea of what I was thinking...

Attached Images

elm.jpg (39.6 KB, 585 views)

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stevehtx

I agree with OMC that the roots need to be cleaned up a little but it is obvious to me that the tree was grown and designed for a Chinese style and to air layer would be to destroy what effort has already been made. I also agree that the top of the tree needs to be lowered some and more movement given to enhance the movement of the roots and the base of the tree. Please reconsider the air layer. A well-balanced, rounded tree seen in a field can be done with pretty much any material but here is a chance to show a tree with considerably more power and character.

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Thanks

Steve Delaune
Houston, Texas

Treebeard

Here is my virtual of the intended broom:

(yes it is cookie cutter-ish OMC)

the pot is from Thomas_J's 5-star elm in the gallery. Hope you don't mind Thomas.

Attached Images

elm virt.jpg (60.6 KB, 569 views)

__________________
"Do not be hasty, that is my motto"
-JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers.
-----------------------------------
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Carl_Bergstrom

Very well said, Steve.

This is what I was trying to say but couldn't find the right words.

(Yeah sure, easy for me to say that now.)

Cheers,
OMC

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Treebeard

There are branches that are not entirely visible on the low left that would serve to lower and elongate the foliage out leftwards if needed. Trouble is (as you point out OMC) the trunk if I do anything other than a broom.

This is ironic too, when I bought the tree I bought the latest copy of Bonsai Europe magazine, and on page 5 is a tree very similar to this one, but the trunk is inclined to point to about 10 o'clock. It's powerful and has character without looking strange.

If others can come up with a way to solve the trunk problem (I may even figure it myself yet) I would love to go with a style similar to OMC's virt.

Regards

__________________
"Do not be hasty, that is my motto"
-JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers.
-----------------------------------
christopherguise.co.uk

stevehtx

I believe that may be a solution to your problem. Since the trunk of the tree is now pointing straight up, incline it one way or the other - to 10 o'clock or 2 o'clock - in order to move the eye some other way than vertical. This should put your branches in a position where they can be used to create better foliage pads than where they are right now. I'm sorry I don't have the capacity to do a virtual cause I can see it in my brain. I think with some manipulation in this fashion you will find a really beautiful tree hidden in there. I guess I'd like to see that you exhaust all your possibilities with this tree as it stands before air layering it.

__________________
Thanks

Steve Delaune
Houston, Texas