TJ’s Big Siberian Elm

[Davidlpf]

Umm, if it were mine....

.

Airlayer and cut by the red line....less is more!

I'm doing a similar treatment to one of mine click,click

Cheers"

 

[Colorado]

Umm, if it were mine....

.View attachment 435185

Airlayer and cut by the red line....less is more!

I'm doing a similar treatment to one of mine click,click

Cheers"

Hmm, thanks for the input! This idea had not crossed my mind to be honest, because the trunk has good natural taper and branch locations. However, I will study the tree more and give the idea serious consideration!

 

[Srt8madness]

B-Nut advice 101 "just chop it bro"

 

[Colorado]

B-Nut advice 101 "just chop it bro"

Haha, yeah…

 

[misfit11]

Nice tree with some great potential. I don't agree with suggestion to chop it down. While that section of the tree is a bit straight and has little taper, I think this does work well as a slanting style tree with all the interest at the top. That section can be hid somewhat with branches.

I am, however, distracted by the inverse taper at the base. The bend is thicker than the nebari or base of the tree. This is where I feel air layering, or in this case basically ground layering, could be beneficial, IMO. If you layer it right at that bend you make the tree more powerful.

 

[Colorado]

Nice tree with some great potential. I don't agree with suggestion to chop it down. While that section of the tree is a bit straight and has little taper, I think this does work well as a slanting style tree with all the interest at the top. That section can be hid somewhat with branches.

I am, however, distracted by the inverse taper at the base. The bend is thicker than the nebari or base of the tree. This is where I feel air layering, or in this case basically ground layering, could be beneficial, IMO. If you layer it right at that bend you make the tree more powerful.

View attachment 435216

Good points! I do think that with time I will be able to further expose the nebari (right now it’s buried) and transition to a more shallow pot. This also may not be the perfect front to minimize the inverse taper.

But I see your point about the inverse taper at this angle. It very well may need to be ground layered at some point in the future. I’ll have to keep that in mind!

 

[Mikecheck123]

I will be able to further expose the nebari (right now it’s buried)

Did you cut off the nebari from the initial picture and go lower?

 

[Colorado]

Did you cut off the nebari from the initial picture and go lower?

Yes. There was a more substantial nebari below the surface roots pictured in the initial photo in the collection container.

 

[Shogun610]

No no no I would not chop it back to that lower branch. You will force it to throw more suckers out and the elm will regrow itself. Do not I repeat do not cut the tree or air layer it. Plus you lose that nice heigh. I would work on building the lower branches and growing them out and ratifying the top like you’re doing. Cut back the basal growth as it arises.

 

[Colorado]

I am loving all of the opinions and input on this elm!

 

[LanceMac10]

Reminds me of an old Chinese Elm my bud had for years......



....embrace the "stank"....

As mentioned, hang some burly branches on her and bone out!!

 

[Colorado]

This tree is an absolute beast! It responded to the prune with innumerable new back buds and new shoots.

 

[VAFisher]

Cool elm. Would rotating the front a little bit counter clockwise hide the taper issue in the base? I also think you're right that it will be less noticeable with the surface roots exposed and in a wider, shallower pot.

 

[Colorado]

Cool elm. Would rotating the front a little bit counter clockwise hide the taper issue in the base? I also think you're right that it will be less noticeable with the surface roots exposed and in a wider, shallower pot.

Yes, I think you are totally right that the current angle is probably not the best angle. I am looking forward to getting this into a better pot.

Thanks for commenting - I really admire your work, especially with your elms!

 

[VAFisher]

Yes, I think you are totally right that the current angle is probably not the best angle. I am looking forward to getting this into a better pot.

Thanks for commenting - I really admire your work, especially with your elms!

Likewise. I was checking out your projects thread. Very cool stuff. Some of your literati designs are really interesting. I don't have any, but would like to.

 

[Colorado]

Second prune of the year. I have left a couple branches long to facilitate thickening. This is a fun one!

 

[Colorado]

This tree grew very well this year. Fall color isn’t great because the leaves are pretty ragged from Japanese beetle damage. Still grew quite vigorously nonetheless.



Here is the tree rotated counter clockwise as @VAFisher suggested. I think this is a much better front and trunkline.


Some of the leaves are still firmly attached, so I’ll give it another week or so and then will remove leaves, prune, and wire.

 

[Colorado]

Before and after fall work. I still want to compact the canopy more. and there are some problem branches to address, but I like where it is headed.

 

[Colorado]

Any suggestions, thoughts, critiques of the new angle/tree overall would be greatly appreciated! I’m not really 100% satisfied with the current design…

 

[BobbyLane]

Potting angle looks better. yes just needs to fill out and branches need to be allowed to extend and thicken.