Powerful Japanese Zelkova

[BobbyLane]

close up of the spring leaves a few weeks ago, this wire is off now. had to move fast before the tree swallowed everything up


this tree is being built mainly through clip n grow. i dont feel the need to fully wire out this tree like i have done with others. a lot of this has been directional pruning.
i pick twigs that are moving up n out. you can see this more in the upper branches.

 

[BobbyLane]

how therapeutic is watering with a hose..

 

[BobbyLane]

It was time i pruned this one back, i went back into old wood in quite a few places

before n after





Naturally, i think i could of went harder!
who thinks i should of went harder?

took a load of twin branch cuttings

 

[just.wing.it]

Looks great!
Could go harder....but why? Its fine.

 

[BobbyLane]

Looks great!
Could go harder....but why? Its fine.
View attachment 379754

I actually did a little more on the low n mid branches on the left.

why?
for better taper. the outline remains, but as it grows n fills back the branch taper will be better.

 

[BobbyLane]

so i took more off,




The taper in that middle branch will be better and the first low one on the left will be more trailing but its been cut back into old wood too.

 

[BobbyLane]

almost a week and new buds are emerging, some on old wood

 

[BobbyLane]

Since that last cut back the tree filled back out, trimmed it again today, but not as hard and this time i did more on top and have left the lower branches

 

[BobbyLane]

Pruned again

 

[cmeg1]

Lookin’ real nice.Zelkova can really be incredible!!!

 

[BobbyLane]

Lookin’ real nice.Zelkova can really be incredible!!!

Cheers. growth has slowed from what it was last year, i need to forget that last summer was a freak event, i got 4 flushes out of the tree last season in the unprecedented two month heatwave we had, this year we've had a poor spring and about two weeks of sun by contrast

 

[Mycin]

How often is too often when trimming? Ive been told that the tree expends energy to grow, and if you trim the new growth too soon you leave the tree at a net energy deficit.

 

[BobbyLane]

How often is too often when trimming? Ive been told that the tree expends energy to grow, and if you trim the new growth too soon you leave the tree at a net energy deficit

depends on your goals. if im trying to thicken low branches i tend to let them grow longer than the top. if im trying to ramify the top i cut back constantly in the growing season,, this cutting back helps the lower n mid branches develop.
then sometimes i just let everything go for a while as seen in these pics. i dont really get too scientific.

sorry i didnt really answer your question.
ill know if ive been cutting back the lower branches too much, as they will appear spindly and weak.
can you ever really cut back in the crown too much? its the strongest part of the tree.
its key to have periods when you leave everything to grow unchecked.