English Elm root cutting

[BobbyLane]

I took a few root cuttings in spring and this is the only one that survived...

a couple weeks ago i pushed it to lay flat in the soil.
so ill try to do a clump from it, earlier i selected all the strongest shoots and got some early movement in, after securing the base as not to cause any rocking while wiring

maybe next season put in the grow bed.
could be a 5 trunker. there was a few hangers on shoots i removed, too weak to bother with, just taking energy from the 5 strongest.

 

[BobbyLane]

I sold all of my trees, but have a few mini projects on the go. this being my fav atm.
the main trunks have thickened fairly well, maybe should have left the 5 trunks to girth up more before reducing, but was just eager to do some bonsai stuff.

its at a point now where i can let it grow, clip back n repeat. theres also a tourniquet just below where the trunks meet under the soil, so hoping to get a new root system going there, then will cut off the extended base.

Its just beginning to bud back since reduction.

 

[BobbyLane]

This has grown well, considering ive been trimming back a couple of the trunks to allow the middle one to take over as the main one

 

[BobbyLane]

Early in this season I also wrapped a touniquet around the base to try to induce new, even roots. then covered over with soil. will have a look to see whats happened after leaf drop.

 

[BobbyLane]

I sold all of my trees, but have a few mini projects on the go. this being my fav atm.
the main trunks have thickened fairly well, maybe should have left the 5 trunks to girth up more before reducing, but was just eager to do some bonsai stuff.

its at a point now where i can let it grow, clip back n repeat. theres also a tourniquet just below where the trunks meet under the soil, so hoping to get a new root system going there, then will cut off the extended base.

Its just beginning to bud back since reduction.
View attachment 445256

Before the above cut back

 

[BobbyLane]

I had a look at the base by lifting the tree out pot and removing top soil recently, the wire tourniquet has been eaten up by the trunk, a few new root hairs emerging but not what id hoped, anyway its mostly covered back up now, with a top layer of moss packed into the base, some cuts and some hormone applied. the pot is now bursting with root, some already circling the pot, lift it out and its just one compact ball. perfect! the base has thickened a little, another season or two in this pot will see it put on nice girth

 

[BobbyLane]

Its been pruned and wired, some parts left long as im still thickening/building, but the vision is clear now, its defo giving clump vibes, not raft...
will allow it to power on again next season. its currently 17in at highest point, that wont change much, I like this height for the tree and width, so will be grown out and cut back to around abouts the current profile. give or take here n there

 

[BobbyLane]

All the leaves are off now, made some final edits, brought a couple trunks closer, applied more wire, got all the lower weaker shoots moving upwards, since they get shaded out very quickly in a clump planting, will allow everything to thicken up again next season, will be fed daily in summer

 

[Wilson]

I sold all of my trees, but have a few mini projects on the go. this being my fav atm.
the main trunks have thickened fairly well, maybe should have left the 5 trunks to girth up more before reducing, but was just eager to do some bonsai stuff.

its at a point now where i can let it grow, clip back n repeat. theres also a tourniquet just below where the trunks meet under the soil, so hoping to get a new root system going there, then will cut off the extended base.

Its just beginning to bud back since reduction.
View attachment 445256

Bobby how come you sold off all of your trees? I remember you having a number of great projects.

 

[BobbyLane]

Bobby how come you sold off all of your trees? I remember you having a number of great projects.

Hi mate, just had some things going on and needed to raise some funds.

 

[Wilson]

Well with the talent you have, and good material at hand, you will rebuild your collection in no time.

 

[BobbyLane]

Well with the talent you have, and good material at hand, you will rebuild your collection in no time.

Yeh I did have a few months where I went off it too, but that didnt last long. I think it will always be a part of me, im 47 so even if I decided to have another break, its definitely something id revisit later in life

 

[Carol 83]

Yeh I did have a few months where I went off it too, but that didnt last long. I think it will always be a part of me, im 47 so even if I decided to have another break, its definitely something id revisit later in life

Stay with it, I always enjoy seeing your trees and what someone can do with easily accessible material.

 

[BobbyLane]

Here's a shot of whats been happening under the soil, this was when I repotted it about 3 weeks ago...

 

[BobbyLane]

Today I applied a ground layer

 

[BobbyLane]

Extending and looking healthy. I love the spring leaves on Elms, leaf size on this variety will remain quite small too

 

[BobbyLane]

Removed all the wire...
Its looking a bit bushy atm, will allow it to keep extending and check for roots later in season...

 

[BobbyLane]

The roots from the air layer are finding their way out to the edge of the container now and I just noticed a root coming out the drainage hole..


covered them up with moss best I could, theyre sort of air pruning themselves at this point! Will be fun separating in Autumn..

 

[BobbyLane]

I severed the layer today, the clump is on its own roots now..

 

[BobbyLane]