Siberian Elm

[aml1014]

Hi Mike, Siberian elms frustrate the heck out of me. Or at least the variety that was planted in hedges all around the GTA. Not sure if there are other types that are more stable.

A friend and me dug up an incredible 50ish year old hedge in Scarborough about 8 years ago, some of these trunks were absolutely stunning.

I've since gotten rid of them all due to the dieback issue, except one shohin that was once just a low branch on one of the big boys. At least with a shohin new branches can be regrown quixkly.

I've hypothesized that repotting every year may help the issue, but that is totally anecdotal.

Good luck with it. The idea of not cutting after July 4th is not practical, as you said. They grow much too vigorously.

http://www.bonsainut.com/threads/ulmus-pumila.22438/page-2#post-373111

The last post I put on that thread shows my theory for the die back issue.

Aaron

 

[amkhalid]

I've never given mine protection and it gets pretty cold around here. Although there might be something there.

I think its just the nature of the tree, being a pioneer species. Not sure how much can be done about that. Maybe grafting?

 

[sorce]

too low hanging.

More images!

Sorce

 

[M. Frary]

This fruit was too low hanging.

It comes with age.
Gravity and all.

 

[jeremy_norbury]

The ball's rolling now, isn't it. Should have sat there quietly minding my own business.

 

[sorce]

ball's rolling

And more images!

Sorce

 

[jeremy_norbury]

Sorcy

 

[f1pt4]

It's already after the fourth, but my Siberians need their first haircut by may, then about every 4-6 weeks there after until fall arrives.

Aaron

Oh and by the way, nice score!

I gave mine a haircut on June 28, and probably just gonna let it grow for the remainder of the season. I'll see if there's any die back after this winter and proceed accordingly in the future. I'm new to the species so I want to observe it's patterns before I do anything too drastic.

 

[f1pt4]

These arent

The first post was in May. So by now it should like a bush on a stick.

This first shot was taken on June 28 before its haircut as per Sorce/Judy theory/suggestion to avoid die back.

The second shot was taken on July 22. I chopped it back pretty heavy so I'm happy it's starting to grow out some.

 

[f1pt4]

Hi Mike, Siberian elms frustrate the heck out of me. Or at least the variety that was planted in hedges all around the GTA. Not sure if there are other types that are more stable.

A friend and me dug up an incredible 50ish year old hedge in Scarborough about 8 years ago, some of these trunks were absolutely stunning.

I've since gotten rid of them all due to the dieback issue, except one shohin that was once just a low branch on one of the big boys. At least with a shohin new branches can be regrown quixkly.

I've hypothesized that repotting every year may help the issue, but that is totally anecdotal.

Good luck with it. The idea of not cutting after July 4th is not practical, as you said. They grow much too vigorously.

Hey Aaron, you know this was Geoffs tree but I don't know how he aquired it. It might be part of that hedging collection. It might not.

I'm not going to baby it over the winter, just bury it in a covered winter storage area off of a north facing wall. Dump snow on it when available. I should have repoted it this year but I ran out of time. I'll be getting to that next year. Both you and Mike Frary hypothesize that frequent repotting is beneficial. You reckon every year? Seems a little too frequent to me? I don't know much as this is my first of this species let alone elms in general.

Thank you for your insights.

 

[f1pt4]

The ball's rolling now, isn't it. Should have sat there quietly minding my own business.

No, it keeps things lively here!

 

[aml1014]

I gave mine a haircut on June 28, and probably just gonna let it grow for the remainder of the season. I'll see if there's any die back after this winter and proceed accordingly in the future. I'm new to the species so I want to observe it's patterns before I do anything too drastic.

Here's my thread on a tree I collected this year. It had been in leaf for easily 2 months. I've got several others I collected this spring aswell. These are super tough trees, no need to be cautious.

http://www.bonsainut.com/threads/rule-number-one-be-prepared.23433/page-2#post-369264

Aaron

 

[amkhalid]

Hey Aaron, you know this was Geoffs tree but I don't know how he aquired it. It might be part of that hedging collection. It might not.

I'm not going to baby it over the winter, just bury it in a covered winter storage area off of a north facing wall. Dump snow on it when available. I should have repoted it this year but I ran out of time. I'll be getting to that next year. Both you and Mike Frary hypothesize that frequent repotting is beneficial. You reckon every year? Seems a little too frequent to me? I don't know much as this is my first of this species let alone elms in general.

Thank you for your insights.

I've hypothesized but I'm really not convinced that the frequent repotting is the solution. Maybe it helps, but it definitely is not the cure. I've been repotting this shohin Siberian every year for 4-5 years and this year it had pretty bad dieback. Don't worry about stressing the tree, they don't even notice being reptted.

My opinion after working with Siberian elm for six years is that the species is just fundamentally problematic. Like Amur maple. Most of the senior bonsai enthusiasts in the GTA will tell you the same. The worst thing is the dieback becomes more of a problem when the tree gets older and more refined.