Meet: Ed Zackery

On my recent trip to the coast I made a trip to meet up with George Muranaka. I had seen this elm on a previous trip but hesitated on buying because it had been recently dug from the field and George was not comfortable selling it to me in that condition. I came back six months later and the tree had responded with new growth and was pushing buds from the bark....a good sign. I was very relieved to see the tree was still there and decided to talk him out of it.

I have bought some cool elms from George in the past and this one is pretty cool also. Lets take a look at it. Today the trunk had dried. It rained all the way home from the coast and all night here. We actually have snow down to 2500 feet!

Obviously this tree has embedded wire in the trunk. The scars from that are easily seen, but not so obtrusive. I feel that will get better with age.

The first branch on the left is in a good place but is growing wrong for my application. See how the heavy branch creates a wye.

The arrow shows the front view and the branch in pink will have to be removed.





The heavy eye poker part is removed. The branch is cut back and prepared for wire.

The small branch above the branch just worked on needs to be removed due to it eventually shading out the primary branch.





here the branch scars can be seen

Up on top I have a good branch in a good location but it has a weird part that turns opposite direction and grows from the top of the branch. Elms do this frequently and it just needs to be removed.




Now the tree was wired and shaped for winter. In my area elms can grow much of the season and will push buds even in deep winter if its mild enough here. So far this is shaping up to be a cold winter, not colder than usual just more like I remember.



The left lowest branch is the first branch (Red circle). The branch low on the right is a back branch ( blue circle) The pink circle is also a back branch. In spring there will be buds up the wazoo to do the filling in or replacing where needed.



The back side of the new apex after removing the top stub by nibbling with a knob cutter and finishing with a knife, and sealing with wound sealant.

Edit: oops looks like branch in pink is a side branch. The back branch can't be seen in the front shot.

Nice tutorial post, Al. I hadn't really thought about you being a Hogwarts alum, but now all the muggles know how you really do it!

Cool!....Mighty fine plan and execution. I liked reading the steps and stages and learning. Thanks!

Actually isn't Ed in the Big Trouble movie? One of my favs. Nice tree, thanks for the look.

Great photo sequence (and great title) and awesome taper! I think I remember seeing this tree at George's place this summer. He had some nice twisted cork bark elms. I also tried to separate him from a couple really twisted ugly (in a good way) elms. I'm hoping he has one left when I go back this spring to get dig the tagged pines. But I'm sure they are all gone now, so don't bother looking on EBay or at his place!

@Smoke, since it was dug this year will you do any rootwork or repot this coming spring?

Do you get fall color on any of your Chinese elms? Since they are 'subtropical', I was going to keep the leaves on over winter (I'm on the coast) rather than defoliate like I do for my tridents when they go crispy. Mine are mostly small root cuttings.

No, I won't do any root work this next season. It is still in field soil, I checked today hoping for a huge flair under the soil (wishful thinking) just sandy loam.

It depends on the species. The cork elms lose their leaves. The drake elms will keep them thru the year unless it gets into the 30's for weeks at a time. when I do get any fall color it is just light yellow. In the pic of this trident in training you can see some elm leaves at the right of the picture and them turning soft yellow.

Hmmm, this must be his slightly smaller cousin, Mai Balz. This is a pic from last month, since now it's just a bush in need of a trim. I was super excited to get this from his last sale!

How is Ed looking?

growing....

My wife hates the cork bark elms. Say they look like turds. I told her thats why i like them!