zelkova

We rescued this 10" tree from Home Depot yesterday and would appreciate members suggestions for starting to care for it. It was tagged as a "Blue Jun" but we think it is a zelkova serrata.

While languishing in Home Depot it has put on the long, leafy branches in what are probably inappropriate places. We would like to prune them but are not sure when and where to start. Daytime temps in western Colorado are now in the 60's (F) and nighttime in the 30's. In January temps can fall to 0 (F) or below. Is this a good time to prune or should we wait until spring? If so, where do we start?

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ripsgreentree

This looks like an elm to me. I do not think that you would do any harm by cutting the extra long branches back to help shape the pads. Don't get real busy with this tree until it has had a chance to establish its self. I will often watch a tree grow for a full year to see how it responds,befor doing any serious work on it.

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ripsgreentree

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TreeBay

Hi Alan,

Looks like Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) to me too. They are semi-deciduous here in northern California, but out your way you can expect it to drop every leaf. My wife and daughter were out your way last weekend for a high-school speech competition outside of Denver. It was unseasonably warm 80 degrees there. Warmer than here in California!

If it was a stressed-out Home Depot rescue, it would be best to leave it alone until spring. Pruning now in conjunction with that little heatwave may induce frost-tender growth. Leaves should be dropping soon and once they have you could probably cut the offending lower twigs away.

If it were mine, I would look to style this in a broom... that appears to be the way it wants to go. Here are some broom style bonsai in the TreeBay Gallery, and a small pic to give you the idea.

[img:8b46e22d70]http://www.memobug.com/if/gallery/bonsai/Taikanten/Shohin/tn_DSCN3994_web.jpg[/img:8b46e22d70]


Regards,

Matt

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Hi!
This is no serrata. It is a chin. elm. Will try to post a pic. of my serrata.
Martin S