Lets go collect an Elm!

M. Frary

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Aha, I thought it would grow smaller. In just one year that much. Nice.
So you will chop it again and again till the transition is unnoticeable?
Thank you for the link Dan.

That one will get cut down to approximately 1/3 the height of the original stump then allowed to grow this year. Next year the leader that grew this year gets cut back to 1/3 the height of last years leader. Then I will start on the apex.
We work on bonsai by rules that were laid down by those that came before. Therefore all the 1/3 stuff.
 

M. Frary

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This is an elm that was made this way. I'm not sure if you can see the trunk or not all the way or not. It was chopped 3 times. My brother got it for me as a gift. I haven't any pictures of it with no leaves. He was told it was 7 years old. That trunk is 5" in diameter. One of the ugliest ones you will see. This shows you what can be achieved in a relatively short time with an elm.
This tree is going to be layered this year. I'm shooting for fantasy style with that trunk! Yikes!!
 

M. Frary

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Whoops! Looks like someone played in the herb garden too long this morning.
Here's the picture!
 

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M. Frary

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I cut them off flat for a couple of reasons.
The first being a flat cut has less area to heal.
The second is that buds may not pop out at the cut but further down the trunk. That means I have to cut again just above where it did grow a branch. That's when a diagonal cut can be made.
 

M. Frary

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It's growing.
 

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lordy

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It's growing.
A major step in the right direction. If it is like the two A.Palmatums I dug this spring, it took over a month for any buds to show themselves, and another couple weeks for foliage to grow. Keep the pics coming!
 

M. Frary

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These elms don't even act like they have been collected. They push new growth at almost the same time as established trees. Not much waiting at all.
I found a couple Siberian Elms to dig next spring for experimentation to see just how much faster they grow than American Elms.
Right now the Americans are beating the Chinese.
 

M. Frary

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2 months later. Growing like it's angry. Cool.
 

M. Frary

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I get so excited I forget sometimes .
 

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M. Frary

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Another month and a half. I said it was growing like it was angry in the previous update. What an understatement. The longest lead is over 4 feet long. This cool summer helps. Usually the trees take a break in the middle of summer but it's been so cool they just kept on growing with no let up. I probably have another month to month and a half of growing season left I hope. If that's the case then I'm looking at another foot of growth this year.
 

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jkd2572

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Make sure to wire some movement in the sections you will not be cutting off before they are too thick. Like the first six inches. Should be quick work.
 

M. Frary

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Make sure to wire some movement in the sections you will not be cutting off before they are too thick. Like the first six inches. Should be quick work.

Got to get after it pretty soon. They are starting to get thick. These things take some bending though so I'm not too late. And I only have to leave wire on for a couple weeks because they grow so fast.
 

sorce

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Nice progress M.Frary

Sorce
 

M. Frary

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Nice progress M.Frary

Sorce

Pretty cool huh? If I was going to build a single line trunk and not a broom I would have only left the single lead at the top. With only one branch to grow it's possible to get 6 to 7 feet of growth in a year. I would be able to cut that back in the spring cause it would be thick enough to start the next section.
 

M. Frary

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One year later. Going for American Elm style American Elm. This will be ready for a pot next spring. Amazing trees.2015-04-25 16.48.00.jpg 2015-05-01 14.52.54.jpg
 

sorce

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Damn.
Hell yeah!

That's right where I want to take some of mine!

Real nice progress!

Sorce
 

M. Frary

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Needs a little carving at the cut to get everything flowing right.
 

GrimLore

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Needs a little carving at the cut to get everything flowing right.

If you ever see and collect a multiple trunk same size only of course 3,4, 5 trunks PM me to talk business. That is a great find and good work but I have a keen interest in "certain" American Elm. Nice work man ;)

Grimmy
 

M. Frary

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If you ever see and collect a multiple trunk same size only of course 3,4, 5 trunks PM me to talk business. That is a great find and good work but I have a keen interest in "certain" American Elm. Nice work man ;)

Grimmy

Will do. I know where some are. I see them along fence rows driving around. All I need to do is ask the farmers that own the property. Most will probably say yes. Next year I'll be focusing on collecting elms.
 
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