I'm gonna make brooms.

32 days after defoliation

Not much to talk about,but I am happy with my first canopy on the zelkova's.
The leaves have hardened.Just waiting for Autumn now.This particular tree has always colored yellow.We'll see.
And then I will be pruning it back over Winter to keep tapered and ramified.
I like this time of year when it does not get above 80 F.
I can ease up on the watering and just keep moist for longer.Hopefully get some good late Summer/Autumn root growth.

Can't wait

I wanted to do a before and after with fall color,but I figured I do it now.
So here it is,last year and the way it looks tonight.
The tree is 17 months from seed.

Nice.

Sorce

Looks like a good year!

Brian Van Fleet said:

Looks like a good year!

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Yes,thanks.
Not too bad.I am happy I struck 18 cuttings from the Zelkovas,Some are now over 4 feet high in little 6" colanders.I want to make small clumps from them.
I defoliated for the first time also 4 of the broom attempts back in August.
I think I am going back to shallow bonsai pots with the brooms in the spring and defoliate a lot.
Thanks again

Fall pruning Zelkova #9

Here is season start and finish from a tree I did.17 months old.

Zelkova ten

Well I did this one tonight.I am using more wire on every one that I do.I anticipate to use less and less though.These are 1.5 year olds.
I got three done and seven to go.

Zelkova five

Here is Zelkova 5 from season start and after pruning and wiring tonight.
I wired almost every branch.I need to buy more wire before I do any more.
There are a couple trees I am saving for last that I think will be getting chopped at the top of the bole in late Winter so I can do them over.

Hmm...

I don't leave wire on my zelkova over the winter. In fact, I'm cutting the wire off that was put on last spring.

You should go ahead and cut off the remaining leaves.

I don't want to hijack your thread, but here's my tree this morning, and then after I finished defoliating, but before wire removal.

Your trees are looking great, keep up the good work!

Hi ,Adair.No hijacking concern here.Feel free.
Yup,I am feeling more satisfied with the trees if I apply some wire in the early stages.I think each season will be less and less wire as they get more refined.
Glad to see someone else's Zelkova get posted in the thread.It looks fantastic! I would be proud to own that tree.
I am going to just keep updating this thread.Jeez,this could go on awhile.Maybe move to a blog when I feel the trees are maybe at a higher standard.
I feel like doing something with my cuttings.I seen on smokes blog ,how to thread the whips through a clay saucer with a hole drilled in it.
I am going to winter my cuttings without pruning whatsoever,to keep them growing fast in spring 2015.Some are over 4' long and about pencil thin or more.
I want to make a broom with some flare at the base by letting it air layer through the clay saucer.I am thinking in terms of a small broom with around 1" trunk,but with great flare and lateral roots from the layering.
Then make the chop after the new Nebari is on it's way and make the broom.
Here is the link from Smoke's blog.I am sure you seen it already.There is two links.
What do you think?

http://bonsaial.wordpress.com/2014/10/29/five-trees-in-a-hole-update/
http://bonsaial.wordpress.com/2014/10/29/five-tree-on-plate-update/

I've never done it that way, but know others have.

I have done the thing where I've screwed the tree onto a board from underneath, and that works incredibly well. One thing, don't get concerned about exposing the nebari too soon. Bury it an inch or so down. It thickens faster. If that's what you want!

Adair M said:

Hmm...

You should go ahead and cut off the remaining leaves.

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Curious, what is the significance of cutting off the remaining leaves? And why do you cut instead of just pull them off?

Frankly, I'm not sure why removing the leaves should be done, but that is the common practice in Japan at the best bonsai nurseries. I'll ask Owen if there is a horticultural reason.

But cutting them rather than pulling them prevents damaging the branches. If you pull one, it might tear the bark.

Besides, many trees, and zelkova particularly so, look better with bare branches than with leaves anyway.

Before and after

I just love the color of this zelkova.It really needed shaping though.I am glad it worked out and look forward to next season.
1.5 years old.
Start of season in last photo.

That's pretty good color for a zelkova!

The prettiest one I've ever seen is at Boon's. It turns lemon yellow. My shohin turned a few leaves yellow, most just turn from bright green to a dull olive green then gray then brown. I cut them off before they go brown.

I've had other zelkova turn orange and dull red.

I have no idea why they turn colors the way they do.

Tracking the color change of this tree

Yes,I am an Autumn color fanatic.I just cannot bring myself to pluck the leaves from this and prune it yet.
Here are a few photos that span 9 days in a gradual sequence.
Maybe I will add another picture soon.

Before and after,Zelkova#11

I always liked this tree.
Now it reminds me of the young red maples I see everyday on the way to work in town that I like.
It is 1.5 years.
Here is a before pic and a couple shots after pruning and shaping.
I also put in a season start in the last photo.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING

That's pretty sweet, gotta be the nicest year and a half old tree I've seen.

wireme said:

That's pretty sweet, gotta be the nicest year and a half old tree I've seen.

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Wireme.Thanks a lot.I will probably have to trim it back some after winter buds form so I actually have room to develope more density in the crown.

Before and after,zelkova#1

This is the oldest tree I have at 2.5 years.
I definitely could of started defoliation at the start of this season,but kind of missed the ball and did it very late in the season,but all is not lost.I still like it.
Here is a before and a couple after shots.
I also added a season start photo the last pic.

This tree has seen a few set backs as far as my "newbie" pruning mistakes have gone.
But I am glad it has survived.