Chinese elm that won't grow new leaves

damon00

I've got a chinese elm that was heavily pruned and repotted a couple months ago. I trimmed alot of the foliage off because it had been very heavily root-pruned. The problem now is that it isn't growing any new foliage. I'm very confused by this and concerned that if it doesn't start to put out some new leaves soon I may lose some branches. Or the tree may die.

I'm considering feeding it a high nitrogen fertilizer to get it to put out some new leaves.

Any other ideas?

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irene_b

Let it alone and give it time.
Sometimes they will take a little longer to spring back after that.
It has leaves so don't be too alarmed.
Regular fertilizer only.
Irene

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Rock Chester

Good advice from Irene, that is one way to approach

If it were mine...
Id Do the fingernail scratch test, if green cambium is found I'd...

1. Defoliate last years leaves --all
2. cut off girdling wire at soil line.
3 trim unruly growth back to two or three nodes
4. give a dose of bloodmeal
5. put in full sun, no shade not indoors
6. Give lots of water and fresh air

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Joanie

Some elms are slow to bud in spring... they seem to have their own calendar. Since you worked on it heavily recently, consider doing what Rock suggested, and then leave it be. Maybe it's shy.

Joanie

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jeremy_norbury

Shy - nice one.

But I agree (except about shyness) all Elms can be funny little buggers when it comes to leaf break and leaf fall.

Oh, and the bark scratch - but do it while sitting or out of earshot of children :-)

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mgodbee

don't overwater. The tree is sick and has few leaves which means it doesn't transpire like a tree growing strong would, don't water until it needs it.

damon00

Thanks for the advice everyone! This gives me a bit to think about.

I've kind of been leaving it alone since I did this work on it. Infact, now that I think about it I'm pretty sure this work was done in December --I really should keep a journal! Time to start, that's for sure!

So I think maybe I will try what Rock suggests...

So... remove ALL it's leaves? Is that risky?

The wire at the bottom is what's holding it in the pot, so I think I better leave that on for now.

The rest all sounds good. But, I'll confess: the whole operation makes me a bit nervous. Of course just letting it continue on as it has been makes me nervous too.

At any rate, I'm thinking I'll try it. At the very least it'll be a good learning experience.

jeremy_norbury

Essetially you need to pass the wire through and around the roots.

The way you have it will almost certainly result in ugly scarring.

If it's alive, that is...

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Rock Chester

Yes all last years leaves, it's spring man, Thats what its supposed to do. new year new leaves.

Full sun super important

Be strong

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