Chinese Elm #2

Indeed, it's a hell of a reverse taper but can be fixed, like you've shown :). Look forward to seeing it in coming years
 
Nice elm - I have an american elm that has fattened up crazly after only 3 years and cut back each year. Elms are crazy that way
 
I just noticed walking by it that there are roots creeping out from under the edge of the cut off pot. All the way around too - Awesome. That means it's probably full of roots.
I'm really glad I put the weed stop fabric down first, so these new roots aren't going straight down to get tangled up with the old ones.

image.jpeg

Not messing with it; I promise @jeremy_norbury ! Just walking by and taking pictures :)
 
Steven1969s said:
Can we gather and update on this tree?
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Eric Group said:
Surely this has been separated?
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Hi guys. I'm in England for a couple of weeks, so I'm away from my trees at the moment (I hope they're still alive). This tree has not been separated yet - I decided to wait until spring. Right now I'm just letting the lowest branching and the new leader grow vigorously. I'll try to update with some pictures when I get back.
 
ColinFraser said:
Growing like a weed, so I'm just selectively keeping things in check. I reduced the most recent trunk segment a bit and selected a new leader too.

Yesterday:

View attachment 108423

Today:

View attachment 108424
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Really nice work on the tree. The chops are progressing mighty fine. Do Elms in California lose there leaves in what you call a winter season? .....or is there not really a winter dormancy. Just wondering......
 
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Tieball said:
Really nice work on the tree. The chops are progressing mighty fine. Do Elms in California lose there leaves in what you call a winter season? .....or is there not really a winter dormancy. Just wondering......
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Thanks!
Where I am it's mild enough that most elms seem to keep foliage on year 'round, but the state is huge, so there are plenty of places with climates that allow for skiing and winter dormancy.
 
Thanks. A few more questions.....
On the tree there was a long growth as you grew out more taper and a new apex possibly. The branch was heading up 3' or so. If you just that top shoot grow...and grow...and grow even taller, much taller....and as a result much thicker likely....
1. Would the trunk thicken significantly? From the soil level all the way up to the top?
2. Would this growth create the opportunity for more taper development that results in a taller tree?
 
Tieball said:
Thanks. A few more questions.....
On the tree there was a long growth as you grew out more taper and a new apex possibly. The branch was heading up 3' or so. If you just that top shoot grow...and grow...and grow even taller, much taller....and as a result much thicker likely....
1. Would the trunk thicken significantly? From the soil level all the way up to the top?
2. Would this growth create the opportunity for more taper development that results in a taller tree?
Click to expand...
The quick answer (though admittedly an oversimplification that doesn't tell the whole story) is that a new leader up top probably won't significantly thicken trunk below it until it reaches the same diameter as the lower section(s). In other words, letting it grow too much is probably more likely to ruin taper than improve it.

Just look at the photos of the tree at the beginning of this thread when I first got it - the top section (that I ended up removing) had gotten away from the grower and was as thick or thicker than the segment below it. That's why it had to go.

I think the way to accomplish what you're asking about is strategic sacrifice branches at various heights; otherwise, previously chopped segments are pretty much the thickness They're going to be . . .
 
ColinFraser said:
The quick answer (though admittedly an oversimplification that doesn't tell the whole story) is that a new leader up top probably won't significantly thicken trunk below it until it reaches the same diameter as the lower section(s). In other words, letting it grow too much is probably more likely to ruin taper than improve it.

Just look at the photos of the tree at the beginning of this thread when I first got it - the top section (that I ended up removing) had gotten away from the grower and was as thick or thicker than the segment below it. That's why it had to go.

I think the way to accomplish what you're asking about is strategic sacrifice branches at various heights; otherwise, previously chopped segments are pretty much the thickness They're going to be . . .
Click to expand...
Thanks. A good straightforward answer. I understand the growth process you described. I guess I thought....more growth...more leaves...bigger growth rings made by the tree from the roots upward. Bigger rings...thicker trunk.

I should be thinking....let the ground grown tree grow without chopping until the trunk is a desired thickness. Then, perform the first chop. After that chops continue at strategic intervals or bud positions. Each section of new trunk is chopped at a time when it is thinner than the trunk section below it....gradually becoming much thinner as the tree height grows. Something like this?

Generally, after the first trunk chop the section below it hardly grows in thickness. I was thinking that growth was like an outline creating thickness from the base up to the top with each outline adding to overall thickness. A growth ring travels up the entire tree I thought.

I need to resist the temptation to chop to early.
 
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Tieball said:
let the ground grown tree grow without chopping until the trunk is a desired thickness. Then, perform the first chop. After that chops continue at strategic intervals or bud positions. Each section of new trunk is chopped at a time when it is thinner than the trunk section below it....gradually becoming much thinner as the tree height grows. Something like this?
Click to expand...
Yes. Exactly this.
 
ColinFraser said:
Yes. Exactly this.
Click to expand...
I should add that this is almost certainly how this tree's trunk was "built" by the grower for years before I purchased it.

Just discussing this has me really missing my trees! I'm looking forward to getting home and assessing any travel-related neglect ;)
 
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