Cedar Elm Yardmadori

[James H]

This is a cedar elm that I have been letting grow in my back yard for the last 3 years. I found some really nice looking Chinese Elm bonsai photos and thought that I might be able to do something like that with a local species.



I will be leaving it in the ground till this spring and then it will be time to chop it and start training it. My questions to the group is there anything that I can do now to encourage more bonsai style grow with this tree while it is still wild. We are still in the mid 80s during the day here and I am still getting new growth on many of my other trees right now.



It does not have much for lower branches right now should I start by cutting back the upper branches to get more lower branch growth. It is pretty straight and feature less right now and it is growing great right where is it so another year in the yard wont hurt if I can start working it into something better. I look forward to reading everyone suggestions.

 

[JudyB]

You are right that this has little to offer in the way of potential bonsai as it stands currently. I wonder if there are any interesting places up the trunk with branches that you could do air layers around. Using the branch above the layer as your new trunk line with some movement to start with. Then you can go back in the ground or trainer with a good start on nebari, which is probably also not great on this tree.

If you really want to work this tree as is, you'll need to chop it low, to get some early movement in the trunk, but it looks like it's in need of more bulk first. I think you might find there is more potential in layers than in the actual tree.

 

[jk_lewis]

I agree, but also think you need to move it away from the foundation ASAP.

 

[James H]

thanks for the tips, I will end up digging it up next spring. I might air layer an upper section and get two trees out of it. I find small cedar elms along the foundation of my home alot. the soaker hose used to keep the area moist seems to make the perfect growing bed for them. I have four more growing right now that I will be developing and digging up as they get large enough to make nice size bonsai.

My hope is for the main trunk of the elm in the photo to be leaned over at around a 20-30 degree angle and start to develop out the branches.