Chinese Elm Advice

sfeagan

Yamadori
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Location
Seneca, SC
USDA Zone
8a
What options do y'all see with this tree? I got this last year as an older seedling growing with many others. I know it doesn't have a great shape because of the damage to the trunk. I thought about cutting off the smaller one or making an air layer and then trying to grind the trunk to a better shape. Any ideas appreciated
 

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BrianBay9

Masterpiece
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Fresno, CA
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Wow that's pretty challenging. You've got one segment of trunk with good taper. You could try to air layer that larger trunk to get roots at that big bulge. Then cut everything back and start over with limbs. Other than that you've got straight cylinders for trunks that I guess could be used for broom style starts, but not sure it's worth that much effort.

Good luck with it.
 

W3rk

Chumono
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MD
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What options do y'all see with this tree? I got this last year as an older seedling growing with many others. I know it doesn't have a great shape because of the damage to the trunk. I thought about cutting off the smaller one or making an air layer and then trying to grind the trunk to a better shape. Any ideas appreciated
I'd cut off the smaller branch in favor of the thicker: the other one gives you a better angle change at that first bend. Then I'd maybe look at grafting a branch or two lower down on the trunk since your first foliage is fairly high up currently
 
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