3" pots of elm

[Gurudas]

Hi everyone! I recently received 3 Chinese Elms from Evergreen Gardenworks. They are in 3" pots. I would like to ask if putting them in the ground now would be ok or would it be better to upsize them to 1 gallon pots.

Thanks!

 

[Joe Dupre']

I'd say put at least one in the ground if not two. I've had them shoot up to 6 feet high and 3/4" in diameter in a year in the ground. It all depends on the "final" trunk size you wish to have. Kept in a pot, the trunks grow pretty slowly. I have the feeling that you could go up to a 1 gallon container with no problem if the root system is filling the 3" pot. Chinese elms are pretty bullet proof.

 

[Gurudas]

I'd say put at least one in the ground if not two. I've had them shoot up to 6 feet high and 3/4" in diameter in a year in the ground. It all depends on the "final" trunk size you wish to have. Kept in a pot, the trunks grow pretty slowly. I have the feeling that you could go up to a 1 gallon container with no problem if the root system is filling the 3" pot. Chinese elms are pretty bullet proof.

Thanks, Joe!

I did look at the looks yesterday and they needed some root pruning. I pruned just the really long ones that were circling the bottom of the pot. They are dormant now and I hope what I did was ok.

I will be putting them in the ground right around buds start to swell. They’re so tiny and wouldn’t want anyone, myself included, to step on them.

 

[Joe Dupre']

It might be a good idea to set aside a designated plot just to grow out trees. They get bigger SOOoooo much faster in the ground. I dug a 3" diameter american elm a couple of years ago and put it in the ground. It produced a 1" diameter leader 8 feet tall in one growing season. The rule I go by is this: if the trunk is close to the size I want, it goes in a pot. If not, it goes in the ground.

 

[M. Frary]

When you do plant them,plant them at an angle.

 

[Gurudas]

It might be a good idea to set aside a designated plot just to grow out trees. They get bigger SOOoooo much faster in the ground. I dug a 3" diameter american elm a couple of years ago and put it in the ground. It produced a 1" diameter leader 8 feet tall in one growing season. The rule I go by is this: if the trunk is close to the size I want, it goes in a pot. If not, it goes in the ground.

I’ll be clearing a little area in the backyard today. I am assuming that somewhere in the middle would be ideal so that the tree gets as much sun as possible fro different angles. What if it isn’t possible to use the middle part and will have to use one of the sides next to a fence? Which side would be best? South-facing?

 

[Gurudas]

When you do plant them,plant them at an angle.

Ah, yes. I do remember reading this somewhere. Is it to plant pointing away from the sun?

 

[M. Frary]

Ah, yes. I do remember reading this somewhere. Is it to plant pointing away from the sun?

So they try to straighten themselves out and so the trunk doesn't start out straight.
I don't think it matters if they are pointing away from the sun.
It moves.

 

[Martin Sweeney]

fix the roots, then plant in the ground

Regards,
Martin

 

[Gurudas]

fix the roots, then plant in the ground

Regards,
Martin

Got it. Thank you!

 

[Gurudas]

So they try to straighten themselves out and so the trunk doesn't start out straight.
I don't think it matters if they are pointing away from the sun.
It moves.

Ok. Sounds good. I think I’ll take photos of it’s progress. It’s neat to see other people’s trees change over a period of time.