Twin trunk zelkova serrata

Fishtank307

Shohin
Messages
445
Reaction score
970
Location
Belgium
Zekova is vigorous. If not, look for the reason. Repot in good mix. Make it strong layer after that. Where would you layer it?

Repotting into a proper mix will probably do the trick. I think the potting soil from the previous owner was inhibiting the good growth I was expecting. I only got a few 4cm-long shoots this season.
I'm going to ground-layer it where the trunk split:

IMG_20181019_082024 (2).jpg
 
Messages
1,654
Reaction score
2,535
Location
Belgium
40 CM is the least to expect on an unpruned zelkova. Let one near the top escape. The runner will power the rootgrowth for the layer next year. The plan is good by the way. I like the tree.
 

Fishtank307

Shohin
Messages
445
Reaction score
970
Location
Belgium
Repotted in March, in a well draining mix. Also cut back to older wood. It's growing far better this year! Already had to cut back 2 times. The root system was already pretty compact with a nice flare, but a bit one-sided. So an airlayer next year will give the best result I think.


IMG_20190226_175441.jpg

Now:
IMG_20190711_125714.jpg
 

Fishtank307

Shohin
Messages
445
Reaction score
970
Location
Belgium
After the last update, it suffered from the high temps, resulting in some leaf scorch. So I left it unpruned up until now:
IMG_20200617_144014.jpg

IMG_20200617_144052.jpg


IMG_20200617_152817.jpg

Bottom branch should be a bit thicker, so I didn't prune it.
IMG_20200617_152825.jpg

IMG_20200617_152843.jpg

IMG_20200617_152855.jpg

IMG_20200617_152909.jpg

IMG_20200617_152807.jpg

I'm pretty satisfied with the progression so far. Next year I'll groundlayer it in order to make a 'true' twin trunk.
My aim for this year was/is to bring to two canopies closer together, by gentle wiring and directional pruning. you can see the gap between the two trees is starting to fill up. The apex is slowly developing... All in good time.
 

Fishtank307

Shohin
Messages
445
Reaction score
970
Location
Belgium
Late winter update... There were some structural 'issues' with this tree that I hadn't corrected yet. Mainly in the apex:
- It was leaning toward the back
- The apex consisted of three branches emerging from the same point.

In the secondary trunk, there was also a point from which three branches grew. The largest one (the leader) was moving away from the front.

Before:
20210228_093805.jpg

After:
20210228_110530.jpg

I cleaned the wound and covered it with paste:
20210228_101427.jpg

One larger branch in the apex was also cut back to improve taper and slow it down a bit.
20210228_110600.jpg

Next step is to (finally) air layer it!
 

SaltySea

Seedling
Messages
6
Reaction score
7
Location
England, UK
USDA Zone
8b
Hi @Fishtank307 ,

How has this tree done this year? I've just come across your thread and I have a similar piece of material that could work for twin trunk and your pictures have been really useful and inspiring.
 
Top Bottom