American Elm

[M. Frary]

But which one is like elm?

Neither. Elm has a darker rough bark. They grow in moist areas but mostly by themselves in the open. Like in ditch lines. The Beech and Hornbeam grow in forests mixed with other hardwoods. Like maple and birch.
This is what American elm has for bark. They get this young. Like at 2 inches in diameter.
Also the branches on American elm angle up right away when they grow.

 

[Tieball]

Neither. Elm has a darker rough bark. They grow in moist areas but mostly by themselves in the open. Like in ditch lines. The Beech and Hornbeam grow in forests mixed with other hardwoods. Like maple and birch.
This is what American elm has for bark. They get this young. Like at 2 inches in diameter.
Also the branches on American elm angle up right away when they grow. View attachment 104852

Correct.

 

[M. Frary]

Correct.

I know.

 

[Zach Smith]

I think the subject tree is definitely American hornbeam. American elm produces a relatively smooth whitish bark by the time it is the size of the one pictured, eventually turning furrowed as it matures. Hornbeam has a greenish-gray smooth bark with characteristic white patches (a lichen, I think, but don't quote me). Leaf shape is somewhat similar, but American elm has a distinctive elongated tip. Also, hornbeam is not apically dominant so the shoot you've wired up won't grow with nearly the strength that American elm would - and the elm leaves on a strongly growing leader get 4-6" long while hornbeam won't get more than about 2-4".

Zach

 

[sdavis]

I think the subject tree is definitely American hornbeam. American elm produces a relatively smooth whitish bark by the time it is the size of the one pictured, eventually turning furrowed as it matures. Hornbeam has a greenish-gray smooth bark with characteristic white patches (a lichen, I think, but don't quote me). Leaf shape is somewhat similar, but American elm has a distinctive elongated tip. Also, hornbeam is not apically dominant so the shoot you've wired up won't grow with nearly the strength that American elm would - and the elm leaves on a strongly growing leader get 4-6" long while hornbeam won't get more than about 2-4".

Zach

I vote for hornbeam also.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

UPDATE:

Well, I think the hornbeamers are correct. All of the characteristics mentioned above for the hornbeam are present on this particular tree, except for one, the leader that I wired up grew like crazy and was as big as my finger. Anyway it is a hornbeam, I wish I could change the title of the thread. I did some major work on it today, which took almost all day. The new leader did not really come out at the right place and looked wonky so I had to decide what to do with it. There were numerous scars that weren't healing, etc, etc. As I mentioned, I have a love / hate relationship with the tree and it has issues, but for some reason I like it, so I will try to make it better.

Here is what I started with


Thirty minutes later, I had all of the leaves cut off.



Lots of nice twiggy-ness, I hedge trimmed it throughout the summer



The apex is a train wreck









Here is that branch that I wired up, decided it had to go

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Some light pruning



Lots of fine roots in this huge mass



Started combing it out, which took for ever


It seemed to have an abundance of beneficial fungi, at least I hope it is beneficial, or I have a huge problem.


After several hours of cutting, washing, chewing, and maybe some sawing, I got the roots down to this





A new home, just a large mica pot

 

[Mellow Mullet]

I decided to use a thread graft to address the apex. This is the first time that I have done one so I hope it takes. I wish I would have drilled the hole at a steeper angle, but it is what it is.

I applied wire to the graft branch


Then drilled a hole, the wire shows the path


I cut some wedges from a chopstick



Threaded the branch through, secured it with the wedges on both sides, and sealed it with cut paste.



For better or worse, a thread graft, and hopefully a new apex

 

[Mellow Mullet]

I had numerous deep holes from previous pruning, I don't know how long ago, I am the third owner.


I used this. I used it on my large arakarwa maple and it served me well



When the epoxy hardens, I will wound the callous and hopefully it will heal over

 

[Mellow Mullet]

There were numerous scars that need to be addressed. I trimmed the callous and sealed it


A money saving tip from the Mullet, go to HD or Lowe's and get some of this, it is the same as bonsai sealing putty but at a fraction of the cost. About three bucks.






Here is how I left her, used and abused, but hopefully for the better.

 

[sorce]

Hey John...

I assume these are your cuts?


I love how they are healing.

Care to share the tool or tools and the process you use to get them so neat?

I'm still working on making them nice and haven't really gotten it down.

And....

I never noticed...that duct seal actual reads Gardner Bender huh?
Ironic.

Thank Brother.

Looking good!

Sorce

 

[just.wing.it]

Nice!

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Hey John...

I assume these are your cuts?
View attachment 134647

I love how they are healing.

Care to share the tool or tools and the process you use to get them so neat?

I'm still working on making them nice and haven't really gotten it down.

And....

I never noticed...that duct seal actual reads Gardner Bender huh?
Ironic.

Thank Brother.

Looking good!

Sorce

Yeah, those are mine. On this tree, I use my knob cutters and cut close, leaving the wound slightly concave. I do this even on smaller branches. I have found with this one, if you leave any evidence of a stub, it will not try to heal.

There is a little irony in the name of the putty.

John

 

[Mellow Mullet]

This big guy is really liking his new home

 

[Giga]

Looking good, great progression

 

[Waltron]

tree is looking good! I cant decide whose thumbnail is funnier, yours or sorce's lol

 

[Mellow Mullet]

UPDATE:

This one has really grown the last couple of months and most of it had hardened off so it was time for a trim. I cut it pretty hard again and was able to chase some of the long taperless branches back in hopes of creating some taper.

Before :











After:

 

[Mellow Mullet]

UPDATE:

It is ready for its second haircut:

 

[M. Frary]

It is ready for its second haircut:

Are these awesome trees or what?

 

[GrimLore]

UPDATE:

It is ready for its second haircut:

Amazing growth! Partial Sun or?

Grimmy