New Mexico’s trash tree, the Siberian elm....progression

[sorce]

The first branch IS supposed to originate from the smaller trunk!

Funny how them "rules" work!

I'm just hear to mention I been watching "Better Call Saul" who, Lol, is from Cicero BTW!

Noting the trees in the Kirk and wondering how thick the thickest Elms have gotten?

Sorce

 

[Hartinez]

The first branch IS supposed to originate from the smaller trunk!

Funny how them "rules" work!

I'm just hear to mention I been watching "Better Call Saul" who, Lol, is from Cicero BTW!

Noting the trees in the Kirk and wondering how thick the thickest Elms have gotten?

Sorce

I’m massively unaware of most of the rules. If that is the case, then it’s meant to be! Of with the branch!!

and I love me some better call Saul. Bob odenkirk is such a cool dude also. Bryan Cranston as well for that matter. Aaron Paul, not so much.

elms are too big here. EVERY dam park I. Town is littered with them and my neighbors to the north and south have massive elms that just rain elm seeds like the plague of locusts. Fucking elmpocolypse

 

[M. Frary]

As bonsai? Yeah I dont blame you. There’s just so dam many around here. I imagine though I’ll feel the same way at some point.

I have or have had quite a few.
They're the most bulletproof tree out there.
But I've encountered the dreaded loss of branches that a lot have experienced.
They also don't seem to like being pot bound too much.

 

[GGB]

That tree is great, the dropped branches thing has kept me from experimenting. But I still haven't gotten a hold of a decent american elm either. Sometimes I wonder if it isn't a cold weather problem on some species, but I won't elaborate here. Best of luck with ramificiation.
Never got into betetr call saul but I do love that he drove a suzuki esteem. My first two cars were esteem station wagons. Hunk of shit vehicle

 

[LCD35]

I'm slowly getting rid of all of the Siberian elms I have.
And I have a bunch.
For me the American elm is better.

Do American elm make it your way in terms of natural range for collecting, or are you in the look out and buying established trees? Not natural in Idaho, only Siberians.

 

[M. Frary]

Do American elm make it your way in terms of natural range for collecting, or are you in the look out and buying established trees? Not natural in Idaho, only Siberians.

Yep.
We have them here.
I also started some seeds.
They crank so not long of a wait until they're big enough to work.

 

[misfit11]

This is going to be a nice tree, Danny. I have a Boxwood with a very similar design. They were originally oriented almost identically to how yours are before the repot. I tilted the planting angle similar to your proposed angle. initially, I wanted to separate the two trunks but I was talked out of it at a workshop. I’m glad I didn’t. Multi trunk trees are oftentimes more interesting than single trunks.

 

[Hartinez]

This is going to be a nice tree, Danny. I have a Boxwood with a very similar design. They were originally oriented almost identically to how yours are before the repot. I tilted the planting angle similar to your proposed angle. initially, I wanted to separate the two trunks but I was talked out of it at a workshop. I’m glad I didn’t. Multi trunk trees are oftentimes more interesting than single trunks.

thanks Misfit! That is a beautiful double trunk. I’ve got a soft spot for boxwood. And yeah double trunks are far more appealing to me as well. This Siberian of mine has come a long way, but should really take a leap in quality this next season. I picked up a pot recently also. And imperfect or “substandard” pot for an imperfect “substandard” species for bonsai. The sky blue will represent our clear blue skies here in NM! I just hope it doesn’t drop any branches.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Siberian elms, in my experience need full blazing sun, sunrise to sunset, at least in the northern tier, like Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. If for example the elm is sited along one side of the house, the side facing the house gets some shade, that is the side where you are likely to loose branches.

American elm and slippery elm (U. rubra) are much more shade tolerant, and will keep branches on the "shady side".

 

[ponderingsage]

Leo,
I'm thinking of taking some thick air layers of Siberians later this spring. Have you played around with air layers? I imagine it would be easy to pull off.

 

[Hartinez]

Leo,
I'm thinking of taking some thick air layers of Siberians later this spring. Have you played around with air layers? I imagine it would be easy to pull off.

@PiñonJ has a thread on his layering.
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/siberian-elm-air-layer.27950/

 

[Hartinez]

Siberian elms, in my experience need full blazing sun, sunrise to sunset, at least in the northern tier, like Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. If for example the elm is sited along one side of the house, the side facing the house gets some shade, that is the side where you are likely to loose branches.

American elm and slippery elm (U. rubra) are much more shade tolerant, and will keep branches on the "shady side".

Here in NM the sun is prevalent and overwhelming at times. This one is among the few that I’ll leave in full sun though. I think it was my over carving on others I had, that caused branch die back.

 

[n8]

elms are too big here. EVERY dam park I. Town is littered with them and my neighbors to the north and south have massive elms that just rain elm seeds like the plague of locusts. Fucking elmpocolypse

This cracks me up. We left Albuquerque (12th & Lead) in spring 2014, and it was emotional to say goodbye to the house and neighbors... except the damn elm in the backyard. Fuck that tree.

 

[Hartinez]

This cracks me up. We left Albuquerque (12th & Lead) in spring 2014, and it was emotional to say goodbye to the house and neighbors... except the damn elm in the backyard. Fuck that tree.

Right. I’m on 8th and mountain. They’re such a nightmare. We’re about to move ourselves. I LOVE my neighborhood and my yard, but the elm trees I will not miss.

at the very least they are fun to practice things on.

 

[Hartinez]

Well shit. Just as I noted in my opening post, these guys are susceptible to branch die back. In this case the entire upper portion of the small trunk. Rather than give up. I will forge on with this tree. Even if it presents a new design challenge each year.
As of right now, a new lower branch on the small trunk becomes the leader.
I will leave the stump of deadwood at the moment.
The main trunk looks good IMO. And if I need to make it a single trunk next year I will.
Pretty sure the thread graft I started last year has fused.
I started 2 approach grafts to improve the nebari.
I improved the planting angle in this different Chinese production pot.
I still like it.
time will tell wether it will truly be a trash tree.

 

[LCD35]

Well shit. Just as I noted in my opening post, these guys are susceptible to branch die back. In this case the entire upper portion of the small trunk. Rather than give up. I will forge on with this tree. Even if it presents a new design challenge each year.
As of right now, a new lower branch on the small trunk becomes the leader.
I will leave the stump of deadwood at the moment.
The main trunk looks good IMO. And if I need to make it a single trunk next year I will.
Pretty sure the thread graft I started last year has fused.
I started 2 approach grafts to improve the nebari.
I improved the planting angle in this different Chinese production pot.
I still like it.
time will tell wether it will truly be a trash tree.
View attachment 300648

Forge on I say. Embrace the idiosyncracies of this species. Keep that sucker in full sun. I dug a small sapling out of a nursery in February (along with a Hawthorne and pear that were gonna get plowed under). I plan letting it decide how ugly it'll be each year.

 

[ponderingsage]

I agree good practice for having to revise a plan

@LCD35
You know I have some spare Siberians if you need more.

 

[LCD35]

I agree good practice for having to revise a plan

@LCD35
You know I have some spare Siberians if you need more.

I appreciate the offer, but there's a pretty good possibility I'll have to take a short vacation over seas for six months this fall. I'm gonna have to farm out some stuff to the club to take off for me while I'm gone. I've pretty much curtailed any new projects in the mean time as my wife gets stressed about the number of trees if I'm leaving. She didn't even want me to replace my willow.

The big one I got at our dig is coming along great. Hoping the big canopy developing is building a good root ball. Did all of yours survive the collecting?

 

[M. Frary]

Just as I noted in my opening post, these guys are susceptible to branch die back

You can stop it by cutting the sucker branches that form at the branch collar of the branches you want to keep. They put out a lot so you need to be vigilant.

 

[Hartinez]

Secondary trunk died after this last winter. Both approach grafts failed. I tried to wean off the thread graft and almost lost that.

all and all though this tree I feel still has a bright future. I’m going to change my mindset with a new nebari. I’m going to do a ground layer for the roots. And the new secondary trunk needs growth but should fill in nicely this next year.