Pruning tips to create foliage pads on Chinese elms

ripsgreentree

I did not realise that I had so many things that I wanted to talk about.
The following pictures show the growing habits of Chinese elm and how you can use this to your advantage in creating compact foliage pads.

Again, the first picture is of the whol tree before pruning.

Attached Images

develop pads full tree.jpg (27.7 KB, 305 views)

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ripsgreentree

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ripsgreentree

Now I want to go right to the meat of the technique so here is a picture of the contrast between the first leaf on an elm limb and the normal sized leaf.

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elm leaves contrast.jpg (15.5 KB, 289 views)

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ripsgreentree

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ripsgreentree

This picture shows that the first leaf is the smallest, and the next two are almost as small.

The next picture shows 4 cuts with the resulting small leaves and the long limb that we are dealing with.
All four cuts are on the gray-barked (more mature) portion of this limb. You can see the small leaves on this portion of the limb. The reddish-brown portion of this limb is the new growth. Notice how quickly the leaves graduate to full size.

By the third leaf you are almost at full size and fifth. sixth and so on are full-sized leaves.

Attached Images

elm leaves example.jpg (18.2 KB, 282 views)

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ripsgreentree

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ripsgreentree

The next thing that is important is: where to cut the new growth. Elms have leaves that are alternate right/left continuously up the limb. The important thing to remember is that the new bud will sprout from the base of the last leaf left on the limb and grow in the direction that the leaf points.

This means that you can set the direction of the new limb by selecting the first, second or third leaf on the new branch. The next two pictures show how to cut. In each example the new limb will follow the direction of the shears.

Attached Images

elm leaves where to cut-2.jpg (24.0 KB, 273 views)

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ripsgreentree

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ripsgreentree

Notice the contrast in the leaves size on the foliage pad and the leaves on the new limb. Second example, again changing the direction of the limbs growth.

Attached Images

elm leaves where to cut.jpg (20.5 KB, 274 views)

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ripsgreentree

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ripsgreentree

This is a picture of the foliage pad after pruning.

Attached Images

elm foliage pad after pruning.jpg (23.7 KB, 284 views)

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ripsgreentree

It requires an open hand to give and to recieve.