Walmart chinese elm progression

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So here is one of my many Wal-Mart trees I picked up early 2018. It's the only chinese elm I've ever found at that store, think I got it for ten bucks since it was the end of season.

Here's how sad it looked when I brought it home.
IMG_20190507_175742.png

I had recently won a pot at a Xmas silent auction for six bucks so I figured what the heck, I'd go ahead and repot it while I cleaned up all the glued on stuff. I I'd some digging and exposed this lanky trunk.
IMG_20190507_175726.png

I let it go several months and just put a little wire on to bring down the branches some. No clue what I was doing but it looked happy last summer.
IMG_20190507_175800.png

Today was a passive aggressive email Tuesday at work and for the last three hours all I wanted to do was work on a tree. It was looking pretty good with nice, healthy growth so I picked it as my victim.

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So...wiring is pretty difficult when it's all leafed out. I just wanted to set some shape t o it and maybe start some pads. All in all I'd say my sixteen buck tree might just bring twenty on the open market.
IMG_20190507_175153.jpg
 

Shibui

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Great job keeping this one healthy. Not sure that the straight top matches the really bendy lower trunk though?
 
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Great job keeping this one healthy. Not sure that the straight top matches the really bendy lower trunk though?

Yeah the more I look at it the more I see that. I'm planning on just letting it recover this year and next spring go for a big chop. Maybe something like this in the end. Forgive my lack of artistry.
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Colorado

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I like it! I’d consider tilting the tree slightly to the viewer’s right next time you repot. I see those “S trunk” elms all the time, so perhaps a change in planting angle could help get away from that image. :)

I’d also cut back further to the second branch.
 

TN_Jim

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I dig it man. It has much more character/potential than the reg ol run-o-mill S-elm.
At first glance thought even lower..like (maybe this is too wonkified)..
airlayer red
new leader blue
try to bed back to backbranch yellow
grow out and thread graft black
1557373208458.jpeg
 
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View attachment 241512
Cutting where the red is approximately, you can regrow two leaders and go for a rounded natural looking crown?

Actually, i think im just going to steal your picture and tell everyone thats what the tree looks like. ?
 
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