American elm

[Plantermunn]

Ulmus Americana.

I have more energy than money and to old to invest decades. But I want trees.
I might buy some after I get through with put killing them.


I can dig this. Next year. What should I do this year?
It is six or seven inches across. It don't have a taper.

Could I tunnel under it and cut the tap root to encourage more roots up top?
Cut the big limb? Both? Do one each year and dig of on the third?

Or just dig it this year? Or keep looking.?

 

[M. Frary]

Couple options. You can chop it this year and dig it.
Or chop and root prune in the ground where it sits. Just trench and cut the roots in order to get feeder roots closer to the trunk.
Me personally? I just chop and dig in one go.
Don't forget to check out roots to turn into root cuttings while you're in there.

 

[Plantermunn]

That was my first thought. If i had it up and panted I could put a little more thought into where to cut it.

 

[M. Frary]

It's best to chop them while they are still in the ground. Once up its harder to do big cuts withot disturbing freshly grown roots.
You can cut an elm right where you want it the first time. They bud out of the cut like crazy in my experience.

 

[Plantermunn]

Ok thanks.

I need to look it over good to see where I should cut it. I can cut back the brush and get some better pics tonight.

 

[M. Frary]

Scrape away the built up leaves and dirt down to where the roots spread to get an accurate idea.

 

[Plantermunn]

Ok. I will take a peek.

 

[sorce]

That's gonna be a giant ass bonsai!

Sorce

 

[Eric Group]

That is a big dammit tree!!

 

[sorce]

Where is this tree?

I would air layer the smallest branch with bark, with movement, or a good branch to cut back to.
Maybe all season long!

Trench it this year. Cut off all BS.

Then dig the bottom next year. Or not.

Sorce

 

[Plantermunn]

You are wright. Its to big. If I was 20 years younger. I would go for it.

I remember that any dead wood on the elms would be almost possible to cut or carve.

I guess I am not quite that nuts yet.

 

[M. Frary]

I've thought about getting a real big one but the cost of a pot to put it in would be high. Also waiting for a new leader to grow back to the right size would take a while. Maybe 3 or 5 years.

 

[Plantermunn]

I think I am like a kid on the candy store at this point. I just want everything I see to be my tree.

 

[M. Frary]

It happens. I currently have 60 and am such a glutton for punishment I plan adding 30 to 40 more this year. I find when I have lots that I don't overwork trees. Cant. Not enough time. That's a good thing.

 

[markyscott]

I think that these are the phases we all go through. Early on we're all filled with heady enthusiasm and collect tons of trees. I'm sure I had 150 at one point! But then as your skill improves you gain confidence and skill and you start getting good ones. The good ones take work and time to develop and you'll grow increasingly jealous of the time you spend working on the junk. Then you start paring down. 25 or 30 is the perfect number for me. I still have too many. Going to be a fire sale at some point.

Scott

 

[Plantermunn]

I am starting to eyeball my neighbors shrubs.

I might meed to arange bail

 

[Tieball]

Looks like an excellent tree to begin work on.

American Elms are nice to work with. Very forgiving. Fast growers. Fast healers after a chop, prune or other removal. I've carved deadwood on Elms....it's not that bad really. What I liked was that it is just a little slower to carve, but not that much slower really, with a Dremel, and with that slowness I gained more precise carving....and enjoyment.

If you chop it down while in the ground you will get excellent growth....all over really. You should have plenty of new branches to pick from for taper development. The new leader will grow an each 8' in a season and really speed the healing if desired.

I've trenched elms, and as you said, dug below and removed downward roots. It works just fine. The tree recovers quickly with good regular watering.

I also don't have forever to wait for trees to grow....much less time than you. The American Elms have been excellent to work on with greater rewards in my lifetime.

 

[Kimberley82h]

I have been giggling at this thread, 150 trees!!! I remember buying number one, and thinking 'I will keep and look after this one tree and see if it grows' now I am two years on and up to six, small number, but is a few more I already want! Glad not just me then