Need some help on Elm
- Thread starter j evans
- Start date
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
Keep the one I circled but keep it short. Only 3 or 4 sets of leaves and then cut it back. You can let the tree rest a while now since you have a good start . Post some new photo's in about a month and we can see where its at.
Here is an old wound and the wound cleaned up.
Here is an old wound and the wound cleaned up.
j evans
Omono
Well Smoke said wait a month but things are really growing and I don't want things to get out of hand
Here is the tree after two weeks:
Here are photos with the main buds that I originally chose to keep:
Notice in the second photo how the bud I kept and cut now has a sprout straight up. What is the best way to treat that?
Here are photos of the other three sides. What should I keep and what should go?
Here is the tree after two weeks:
Here are photos with the main buds that I originally chose to keep:
Notice in the second photo how the bud I kept and cut now has a sprout straight up. What is the best way to treat that?
Here are photos of the other three sides. What should I keep and what should go?
Eric Group
Masterpiece
I think smoke helped you lay out a solid plan of action here man, and the tree is looking well on it's way already- obviously a healthy little guy.
You should keep the ones you circled... I don't know if there is any urgent need to remove all the rest right away. I might recommend keeping a few more than you need to help close some wounds on this bad boy... Later this year/ next year get in there and really do your selecting when you can better see which ones are keepers.
You should keep the ones you circled... I don't know if there is any urgent need to remove all the rest right away. I might recommend keeping a few more than you need to help close some wounds on this bad boy... Later this year/ next year get in there and really do your selecting when you can better see which ones are keepers.
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
I would start to wire this tree to get some bends early on. Just be super careful with new tender shoots. Search for a Grouper52 post talking about baby bending here on the forum.
j evans
Omono
I was concerned as Smoke warned me of bulges forming where too many buds popped in one area and that the unwanted should be removed. That is why I a bit anxious
j evans
Omono
Ok, it has been 6 weeks since my chop. Here is what I have. I know that it is going to be hard to tell but I have tied yellow flagging around the branches that I think I should keep. There are four or five total. In my opinion I think that I need to weed some of them out and do some wiring if I want some movement in the branches as some of them are thickening up fairly quickly. What are your thoughts
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
Cut all branches to 6 inches long. Remove all leaves and then post new pics. Can't see anything for all the leaves. Doing that will not hurt the tree at all. Don't worry about bulges, there is plenty of time to fix any potential problems which I don't think you have based on what I can make out.
Kodama16
Shohin
Following along. For what it worth I like this new design way over the original. The original did nothing form me. But that's me.
Going to be a sweet tree man! Love rough bark elms. Is it Chinese?
Smoke! You go man great job helping him out here. Great hands on advice from a pro!
Going to be a sweet tree man! Love rough bark elms. Is it Chinese?
Smoke! You go man great job helping him out here. Great hands on advice from a pro!
j evans
Omono
As I am getting ready to upload the new photos I realize that I did not take an overhead shot. It is always something. I left the flagging on as I am curious to see how my branch selection compares to other peoples choices. If possible I'd like to hollow out the lower chop scar and make it visible in the overall appearance of the tree. Just one of my thoughts. Here is the tree after a haircut.
j evans
Omono
Here are some closer shots with the sides in the same order 1 - 4. Thanks for your help.
Jamie
Jamie
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
I would.....
Cut off everything marked in red. Those larger ones you have tagged with yellow ribbon are too large. Other shoots will develop that may be better than those I have marked in sky blue. For now, cut off the red and keep the sky blue. Cut back to my trim marks on the sky blue keepers. Some of the blue ones I kept that seem like funny choices should be kept and bent towards the rear for back branches. This has the potential to be a really great tree. If you cut it back now it should go for at least two or three months. Since the weather is heating up it will slow down. This will have good potential for the Fall. You are doing very well with it so far. Keep it up, its looking good.
There are a couple small twigs I didn't tag, I would wire them and reserve them as back branches for depth. wire them towards the back like the others I mentioned above.
Cut off everything marked in red. Those larger ones you have tagged with yellow ribbon are too large. Other shoots will develop that may be better than those I have marked in sky blue. For now, cut off the red and keep the sky blue. Cut back to my trim marks on the sky blue keepers. Some of the blue ones I kept that seem like funny choices should be kept and bent towards the rear for back branches. This has the potential to be a really great tree. If you cut it back now it should go for at least two or three months. Since the weather is heating up it will slow down. This will have good potential for the Fall. You are doing very well with it so far. Keep it up, its looking good.
There are a couple small twigs I didn't tag, I would wire them and reserve them as back branches for depth. wire them towards the back like the others I mentioned above.
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Smoke
Ignore-Amus
FYI, also as the top grows after cutting the apex, do not let the shoots grow past 6 to 8 pairs of leaves. Continue to cut back on the apex to keep the new shoots smaller and in check. Do not allow them to get as big as some of those shoots you have up there now. That thing is a beast and it will get away in a hurry.
ahhh, the plight of managing elms.......
ahhh, the plight of managing elms.......
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
This is a cool thread. Looks like you've got a grower on your hands. Looking good so far.
j evans
Omono
I'm all excited to get home and do some cutting after dinner. Thanks everyone, especially Smoke & Brian
Jamie
Jamie
j evans
Omono
Well today is the 16th and I did some cutting on Monday. Here are the results starting with side 1 and going to side 4
I am thinking about doing some wiring but first I am concerned about the two marked shoots.
The left one as it when viewed from the above angle looks to run parallel to the trunk, not out like I think that it should be and due to its angle to the trunk where it comes out. Leave and try to wire out or cut it away?
The one marked on the right seems to be a bit oversized and this are seems crowded, it also can be seen in the side 4 photo above. Remove the "marked" one? I'd also almost be tempted to remove the one above the one marked on the right but then that leaves side 3 pretty bare.
Any thoughts? Smoke, Brian?
Thanks
Jamie
www.everythingnorthwest.com
I am thinking about doing some wiring but first I am concerned about the two marked shoots.
The left one as it when viewed from the above angle looks to run parallel to the trunk, not out like I think that it should be and due to its angle to the trunk where it comes out. Leave and try to wire out or cut it away?
The one marked on the right seems to be a bit oversized and this are seems crowded, it also can be seen in the side 4 photo above. Remove the "marked" one? I'd also almost be tempted to remove the one above the one marked on the right but then that leaves side 3 pretty bare.
Any thoughts? Smoke, Brian?
Thanks
Jamie
www.everythingnorthwest.com
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
I would go ahead and wire those down some and out. The upper on you have circled in the last photo I would cut back by two thirds and wire down to the back. The other one you have circled thats lower I would remove and the one to the right I would wire down and back to the left ( as you view it in that last photo) and the small one to the right I would wire and pull down in about the area it is in. Then let er go. remember to keep cutting after all has grow to about 8 pairs of leaves and cut back to 2 to 4. Keep doing that the rest of the year. Elms throw lots of shoot out of the middle of a branch pointing up. Cut those out flush to the branch, keeping lateral side growth on the branch.
You can wait to wire when you see the small buds forming. Be careful to not knock them off. In about two to three weeks.
You can wait to wire when you see the small buds forming. Be careful to not knock them off. In about two to three weeks.
j evans
Omono
I did that trimming last night and in reviewing the tree it is hard to believe how many new buds it has in just about a week. Not only are there new leaves on the shoots there are numerous new buds popping out on the trunk, along some joints etc. I have had this tree for years and it seems that the more I cut it the better it likes it. I am going to get started on some wiring maybe this weekend.
Jamie
Jamie
M. Frary
Bonsai Godzilla
That just tells you that it is very healthy and ready for whatever you will be doing to it. I call it growing back in anger. They just pop out all over the place. You are now officially a bud rubber!
