Elm, Small Backyard Yamadori

[mholt]

I dug up this elm in my yard yesterday. I tried unsuccessfully ground-layering the tree last year as it was growing within the roots of a privet and was a complete cluster-f&*k. I decided to remove the two and separate and place in containers. I'm guessing this is a Siberian, perhaps Slippery elm.

 

[rockm]

Cool little stump. I'd remove the two minor trunk on the right completely and go with the single trunk on the left. Good luck if it's a Siberian...

 

[mholt]

Thanks Rockm. The two minor trunks will go. Using the one as a tie-down for now. Not much for roots on this one unfortunately, as it consisted of mainly a giant taproot. I've seen these growing like weeds colonizing along hedges, fences, etc. They start off with an orangy-red bark, leaves aren't as shiny as American elm and are somewhat rough. Wish I can properly ID.

 

[rockm]

Don't worry about roots, you will get them pretty quickly. It's an elm after all and almost every elm species is indestructible.

 

[mholt]

I was hoping to hear that kind of encouragement. Judging by the way I've ruthlessly hacked away at the top growth when they appear along hedges in the yard here (and they shot right back), I figured they were indestructible.

 

[cquinn]

That my friend is going to be a fantastic Shohin. Think sumo Trident and you get where I'm going with this.

 

[mholt]

Thanks Cquinn. If the leaves of this guy reduce a lot, that's the way I see it headed. Out in the wild (in the neighborhood) the leaves are much too large. BUT...then again, I've mainly seen them competing against large hedges for light.