Nice little winged elm saved from the bulldozer

[ETN_bonsai]

Pulled this one from another work site, and industrial area this time. The area it was in is being redeveloped and we’re pouring some of the new building slabs. The day was slow, so one of the fellas that works with me and myself pulled this tree. I know it’s way too tall and I’m not 100% sure it will survived (the guy helping me was randomly…less than tender halfway through the dig). But I brought it home, put it in a grow box, clipped the top out, wired the branches down and did some minimal pruning. The first picture is the tree on site.

 

[Shibui]

It's and elm. They are renowned as tough customers so I would not be too worried about some 'rough' treatment. Not sure how rough your assistant was but they can survive with very minimal roots so I'd still be optimistic.

Also no need to worry about the height. Elms have no problem with pruning so you can reduce the trunk height and branch length almost anywhere and expect a good response once the tree has recovered from the transplant. That's likely to be mid to late Summer but if it does happen to grow a bit slow next Spring you should consider deferring any major pruning until the following year or when it is healthy and growing well.

 

[ETN_bonsai]

Thanks for the reply. I ended up with a ~2’x3’x4-5” dirt/root mass. My main concern was breaking the roots in said mass.
I’ll likely leave it to grow for another year or two before I do much more cutting work. I like the shape I ended up with. I didn’t really do much limb pruning.

 

[ETN_bonsai]

Quick question about the hardiness of the plant since it’s freshly transplanted- it’s supposed to drip into the teens for a few days here after Thanksgiving. Should I take anymore precautions that putting the tree on the ground and covering the grow box in some mulch?

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I would think that is enough protection for the elm. If you want to put it in an unheated space for the coldest periods, go for it.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Quick question about the hardiness of the plant since it’s freshly transplanted- it’s supposed to drip into the teens for a few days here after Thanksgiving. Should I take anymore precautions that putting the tree on the ground and covering the grow box in some mulch?

I took cuttings in the dead of winter and I lost just 3 out of 19.
They're indestructible.