Late layering of Zelkova?

[leatherback]

I was cleaning up the garden and noticed one of my zelkova grew a branch of about 4ft this year. Nice and arrow straight I thought it would be a nice candidate to start a new project. SO instead of it going to the compost when I do my fall pruning.. I was thinking to do a layer.

How do you put my chances?
I would say turning of the leaves is expected somewhere October (Early in normal years, in recent years sometimes as late as 1 november).

 

[leatherback]

Or would taking a massive cutting be better?

 

[Paulpash]

Or would taking a massive cutting be better?

I'd air layer next year - would it ruin your tree to be left on?

 

[leatherback]

I'd air layer next year - would it ruin your tree to be left on?

Nah, but when I walk out with my pruners, I prune all

 

[Paulpash]

Nah, but when I walk out with my pruners, I prune all

Patience, Grasshopper! (this is a t-rex but just squint a bit)

 

[AJL]

I reckon you could still do it now if you could move it into a greenhouse or poly tunnel for the winter! Youre much more likely to succeed with an airlayer than a massive cutting!!

 

[cmeg1]

If current season growth,I seen them layer in 10-16 days....never tried a branch...I always do mine to whips in ground.
Growth beyond 2nd season has actually failed for me .
This one below is 2nd growing season wood.

 

[cmeg1]

16 days

 

[bwaynef]

My zelkova respond pretty quickly. I'd try it in my climate.

 

[rollwithak]

I was actually wondering if I could still do my Katsura Japanese Maple. I live in very warm zone and our winters are mild compared to most. Wondering if I could still layer this top portion of the tree and have it be ready to separate before winter? I’d probably just let it go into next spring to be honest.

Neither of these are great candidates for bonsai but I’m more interested in making a 2nd tree out of this.

 

[leatherback]

Well.. My dilemma solved itself.
Last night I decided to go out and give it a shot.
This morning I came out and the branch had snapped. As I do not remove any of the wood (Just cut 1 circles with a knife and pull the bark off), it seems like the bark keept the long branch in place.
Second year running that long branches snapped on zelkova layers. This is a good lesson to learn for me.

A large cutting it is!