Found this beast today

Josh86 · Sep 4, 2017

So I was out walking today and found this. I think it has a lot of potential. I cleaned a lot of the dead stuff out and cut the weeds around it.

I am not really sure what to do with it. Leave it in the ground and take some airlayers off next year and dig it up the year after or dig it up next spring and cut it back

Brian Van Fleet · Sep 4, 2017

Cherry of some kind? What do you see in it?

Josh86 · Sep 4, 2017

I believe it is slippery elm. If you look at the 2nd picture I was thinking of removing the straight trunk(s) to the right and the branches that come out toward you shorten the rest. As of now without the straight trunk(s) it kind of loose windswept. It just looks crazy interesting.

Paradox · Sep 4, 2017

Brian Van Fleet said:
Cherry of some kind? What do you see in it?

I see one of @Smoke's leverites

Brian Van Fleet · Sep 4, 2017

With bonsai, especially collecting deciduous trees; you need to concentrate on a good base and trunk, and realize that you'll need to remake all the branches. So if you distill this tree down to a few of the trunks on the left,and assuming all else goes well, is this worth collecting?

I don't see it. Best case, you'd find the single best trunk line, and remove the rest. Chops this would require will take forever to heal once you begin to grow it slowly for bonsai.

sorce · Sep 5, 2017

Those small trunks on the left that come out of the earth....
Makes it seem there is a lot of straight down there before a root spread starts.....

Investigate.

I think a slight right tilt can get that up out of the ground for you and at least give you a nice base to ground layer if needed.

Sure wouldn't remove those big Barky trunks and go for clump.

Iffin it pans out as such.

Sorce

Giga · Sep 5, 2017

There is a lot going on with this tree - It's an interesting tree, it's hard to say, without seeing it in person, not sure if I'd collect it or not. Can you get a shot of the leaves to get a better ID on it.

Josh86 · Sep 5, 2017

There is a few things I could air layer as elm around here is pretty hard to find. this is the 4th one I have found and been looking for a week. I can get some leave pictures today. I was also thinking about a clump. Ground layering was also something I was thinking would need done

Giga · Sep 5, 2017

looks like an elm for sure

ajm55555 · Sep 5, 2017

Giga said:
looks like an elm for sure

Agreed

Josh86 · Sep 5, 2017

I was just amazed at how this grew into a bush rather than a tree. It looks really cool. I have decided to leave it in the ground and care for it taking the air layers off it. I may work on it while it's in the ground and if nothing else I will just keep taking air layers off it.

VAFisher · Sep 5, 2017

Cuttings should be easy to strike too. I did a few on winged elm last year and have been amazed at the growth they have put on.

Found this beast today

Josh86

Yamadori

Brian Van Fleet

Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy

Josh86

Yamadori

Paradox

Imperial Masterpiece

Brian Van Fleet

Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy

sorce

Nonsense Rascal

Giga

Masterpiece

Josh86

Yamadori

Attachments

Giga

Masterpiece

ajm55555

Chumono

Josh86

Yamadori

VAFisher

Masterpiece

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