Zelkova Forest

micahmcgrath

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Fellow Nuts! Spring is around the corner... With only a few freezing days ahead, my Zelkova began to push buds. Seems like this forest will be my first pot up this spring and I'll be doing the two step the next few days.

(I should note, I am currently in zone 7a/7b, not 6a, that is why I'm repotting this early)

Pot Preparation:

This winter I had made a small oval pot to create a forest planting. Drainage screens were wired into place and 6 tie down wires were added.
 

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micahmcgrath

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The Trees:

One of these Zelkova had been purchased over a year ago and had been allowed to grow freely. The other four were purchased this year, but all seemed to be different ages.
 

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micahmcgrath

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Potting and Placement:

Next I prepared each tree to be potted and placed. The roots looked very healthy on all of the stock, but each had large tap roots which had to be removed.

Beginning with the largest tree, I began placing and arranging. I already had a general idea of where I wanted the trees, roots allowing. Some of the smaller seedlings did not have enough substantial roots to tie down after the tap was removed, so I had to improvise. The tree on the far right of the planting is wired to the main tree's roots, and hopefully recovers smoothly.
 

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micahmcgrath

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Finished Composition:

I am generally happy with the end result. Afterwards I decided to removed some of the unnecessary branches on the main tree. Everything is generally sturdy in the planting, so I am content. In the future I will be looking to develop inward growth on the bare 'stick-in-pot's and likely shorten the trees. I've also contemplated moving the left two trees closer to the main composition. For my first forest planting, I am content for now.

Any comments and critiques are welcome!
 

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micahmcgrath

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All root cuttings were positioned and bound together to hopefully form an interesting franken-elm in the future. Both the planting and the root cuttings were potted in 2:1 akadama/pumice sifted down to 1/16. There were few coarse (>1/4in) in the mix.
 

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Leo in N E Illinois

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Looking good.

This is a nice arrangement. After the trees grow a couple years, you may end up re-positioning them slightly. But for a first go, you did well. The small trees are all positioned well to give depth to the display. Nicely done
 

RKatzin

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Nicely done and a nice pot, too. One thing I try to avoid is trunks and branches that cross forming x's. Often remedied by adjusting the front or tweeking the trees a bit. It is acceptable (to me) if there's some distance between between the trees, which is hard to discern in a pic face on. Hope to see this with some branch and twigs and fully leafed out!
 

micahmcgrath

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Nicely done and a nice pot, too. One thing I try to avoid is trunks and branches that cross forming x's. Often remedied by adjusting the front or tweeking the trees a bit. It is acceptable (to me) if there's some distance between between the trees, which is hard to discern in a pic face on. Hope to see this with some branch and twigs and fully leafed out!
Very helpful, thanks for the reply. Once leafed out, I'll be looking for the same things. Here are some different views which help to see the positions a bit better.
 

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micahmcgrath

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April 10, 2020

Here's the forest all leafed out before a minor cutback and light wiring.IMG_20200410_133421.jpg
It seems like the smaller trees are a different variety of zelkova than the main tree.. perhaps a different sort of elm. Any insight would be much appreciated!
 

micahmcgrath

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April 10, 2020

Here's the group after a light trim and wire. The wiring is lack luster and sloppy, but it's just to position a few twigs for the growing season.IMG_20200413_160911.jpg
 

micahmcgrath

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Update! Grew alright this year. Some fungal issues to combat, but developing nicely.
img_20200811_184542-jpg.341084
IMG_20201104_083707.jpg
 

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micahmcgrath

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Zelkova with fungal issues? Never heard that before. You sure it is nto something else?
Not 100% sure. Just been having anthracnose on many other deciduous, so I presumed the same for this one. We'll see in the spring
 

micahmcgrath

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Thought I'd share an update on this forest! As it was, coming out of winter storage:
IMG_20220222_120504.jpg
As it stands now in a @sorce pot:
IMG_20220222_130935.jpg

Glad I went for a repot this year. After two years in that container, the elms had overgrown the drainage holes with 1/2" thick roots. I'm assuming that was the cause of the previous issues over the summer. Had some weak growth on the smaller trees, so took more off the larger trees' roots systems to compensate.

Going to tweak the positioning of the trees in the back after bud break. They're sort of conflicting with their neighbors currently, but better spacing overall for the forest post repot, i think.

Comments and critiques welcome!
 

sorce

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That's not a pot I expected to see used so fast or so well.
Mad glowup in that pic! The dark looks so intriguing.

Having a silent hand in the bettering of the composition is very satisfying.

Thank you.

Sorce
 
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