Literati style for young and spindly elms?

[Bart99]

I just got two young, thin and spindly elms. One is Ulmus parvifolia ("regular" Chinese Elm) and the other is Ulmus parvifolia 'Frosty'.

They are extremely flexible and can be twisted into any shape imaginable including tied into a knot!

My plan is to plant them out in the garden for a couple of years (?) to give them a chance to size up.

My questions are:

1. Do these trees make good literati style, or should I do something else?

2. If the answer to #1 is yes, should I begin wiring immediately or let them grow for a while?

3. Is it stupid to do both trees as literati? If so, which is a better pick?

Any advice, guidance or smacks to the head are welcome.

Thanks!

 

[my nellie]

... ...Any advice, guidance or smacks to the head are welcome.
Thanks!

No pictures?
Then your chances to get advice/guidance are very limited.
That's good as far as smacking is concerned, though

 

[Cypress187]

Elms don't grow like literati in the wild, it's much more obvious to use a pine. I don't know much about literati but rarely see taper in them, so I guess u'll need to wire them before they get too thick. I wouldn't make either of them literati, just let them grow and chop them to taper/movement over the years. P.s. we like pics very much

 

[Bart99]

Thanks for both replies. Here's a photo, but there's not much to see.

 

[Bart99]

Also, the place I bought them from calls them full shade plants. Is that just for trees in bonsai pots or can I plant them in the garden in full sun or close to it to thicken them up?

 

[just.wing.it]

Full shade huh?....
I think they're gonna grow like weeds no matter where you put em.
They need a few years to thicken up before styling is in order...

 

[Bart99]

Thanks for the reply.

"Full shade" may have been too strong. They are just listed as "shade". The other two categories were "part sun" and "sunny".

I'll stick them out in the garden and check back in a couple years.

 

[sorce]

You sure they wasn't calling them shade trees....as in....they grow big to give shade?

Ah, full sun!

Nice!

When you see how fast those grow......
You'll probly jump to the elm grow train and skip that box!

Sorce