Seiju Chop

[sorce]

http://www.jimgremel.com/copperwire2106.html

One of the best.

Sorce

 

[erb.75]

why is everyone suggesting getting the wire off of there? Is it just concern about the vigor of the tree, allowing it some time to recover? Too much at once with the chop + wiring?

I have a Yatsubusa elm....would it be too much to repot it this spring and then air layer off a section?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

why is everyone suggesting getting the wire off of there? Is it just concern about the vigor of the tree, allowing it some time to recover? Too much at once with the chop + wiring?

I have a Yatsubusa elm....would it be too much to repot it this spring and then air layer off a section?

I'm the only one who suggested it in this thread, and I explained why in the same paragraph. Post 6.

You can repot and layer an elm in the same year if your growing season is long enough. Repot first, get it growing hard (no pruning) then do the layer in early June. Full sun, lots of feed.

 

[ColinFraser]

You guys (and gal) weren't kidding about buds! It's been less than two weeks and they're popping all over the trunk. You'll also notice it's free of wire and cut paste; thanks again for the suggestions. The new lead is waking up too - I love those tiny leaves!

 

[JudyB]

Great to see, thanks for updating! Keep rubbing off the buds you don't want...

 

[M. Frary]

Looking good! You're going to really like this tree.

 

[Vin]

Great to see, thanks for updating! Keep rubbing off the buds you don't want...

Judy,

Wouldn't it be better for him to keep as much growth as possible on the new leader? The more leaves on that branch the faster the chop will callus over.

 

[ColinFraser]

Judy,

Wouldn't it be better for him to keep as much growth as possible on the new leader? The more leaves on that branch the faster the chop will callus over.

I think she meant below the chop. Above it I definitely plan to let it run wild to heal the cut and smooth the transition.

 

[JudyB]

Yes, no reason to have the tree put energy into the many buds that will pop in areas you don't need. But I would get a sacrifice branch going on the back of the trunk.

 

[Giga]

Next time you may want to chop lower to get better taper, I think a few people said that.Elm grow like mad and if you plant it in the grownd it'll grow very fast once settled. I cut mine down from 6' to a few inches. It grew 18' last year after I selected one leader and almost healed the cut over. I'll take a couple pics tomorrow.

 

[ColinFraser]

Growing like a weed:

 

[sorce]

Oh Damn!

Don't know how I missed all this!

I can't wait for spring!

Hell yeah Colin!

Sorce

 

[JoeR]

I've seen springs at the bottom of elevator shafts smaller than that wire!

Joshing you.

I started using self annealed copper and the difference is outstanding!

Sorce

You've seen a difference in wire you have annealed over pre annealed copper from say Julian or Jim?

 

[sorce]

You've seen a difference in wire you have annealed over pre annealed copper from say Julian or Jim?

No. I used to use some black coated aluminum like wire.
Or random stuff.

Using self annealed copper is better than that. Its easier to apply, and holds faster, much neater.

I imagine their wire would be even better!

Sorce

 

[JoeR]

No. I used to use some black coated aluminum like wire.
Or random stuff.

Using self annealed copper is better than that. Its easier to apply, and holds faster, much neater.

I imagine their wire would be even better!

Sorce

I just bought Julians introductory special and I can say it is a vast improvement from this cheap black aluminum wire I bought off eBay.

 

[ColinFraser]

Time for another update.

The wound from the big chop is definitely healing, and the branch that became the leader has already thickened at its base (the large one going up in this photo):

So much so, in fact, that I'm not sure I want to let it run much longer for fear of ruining taper. The branch exiting lower left in the above photo is the second (righthand) branch.

My first and second branches are coming along. They were gently wired down a bit as shoots and are now staying in place. There is also a good potential back branch just above the chop. The top end has really grown well, and I think it may now be shading out my keeper branches and potential new leader(s):


This morning I thinned out some branches in the middle of the big sacrifice leader (well above wherever the next chop will be), so I could see what I was working with a little better and let a little more light get to the low branches:

 

[sorce]

Nice. Not that it's right, but I probably would've cut more off the top to keep the vigor low.

More food factories at the bottom.
That's my rule! Leaf counting!

Sorce

 

[ColinFraser]

I have to say, part of me really wants to chop it again now! What do you Bnuts think?

In the last photo of my previous post, there is a branch going up and to the right that just seems perfect to be the new leader. What my inexperienced and over-eager bonsai brain is telling me is that I could chop again now and let the new lead and the lowest branch run for a while . . .

I just don't want to let the big lead that's running now get so thick that I lose the tapering transition and/or get a big bulge at the chop. Am I off base in worrying about that? Any feedback would be much appreciated.

 

[ColinFraser]

Nice. Not that it's right, but I probably would've cut more off the top to keep the vigor low.

More food factories at the bottom.
That's my rule! Leaf counting!

Sorce

Yep, I was getting to that. I really wanted to get some feedback here before I went any further.

 

[erb.75]

wow that thing is growing like crazy...maybe i need to fertilize my plants more...i'm always pretty conservative with the fertilizer