What is the best season to chop the Elm trunk?

[proninyaroslav]

This small-leaved Elm has an interesting history, the main part of the trunk died after air layering (I wanted to improve the nebari) and I had to grow the trunk continuation for several years. Now it has almost reached the thickness that I would like (diameter about 2.5-3 cm), but in the spring I will repotting with a significant root reduction, so I decided to postpone chopping. Can I chop the trunk down to the line (on the photo) this summer and give a back budding, or should I wait until next spring? The length of the trunk is more than a meter, mainly the branches are located at the top, and there are no suitable branches below that I could chop the trunk, so I want to chop to the dormant buds on the right.

 

[Shibui]

Down here I usually root prune and chop at the same time.
Elms are pretty tough. Provided your tree recovers well from the root prune and is growing well you can chop the trunk in summer. If it does not look happy through summer leave it until next spring.

 

[proninyaroslav]

Today the tree looks like this. It is very vigorous and recovered after a spring repotting. If I cut down the trunk at the marked spot, can I get a dieback? There are dormant buds there.

 

[BobbyLane]

You have growth under the chop point, so doubt you'll get much dieback. Within 2-3 weeks those dormant buds you want to chop close to, should begin to emerge if the tree is healthy and has a good root system. you might even get buds forming at the chop point, as elms do. elms are nothing like maples that have a tendency to dieback after chops.
feed well after the chop

 

[BobbyLane]

Best time to chop? I like June to do hard cut backs, chops etc, see how this one responded after June cutbacks:

Chinese Elm Broom

Hi folks, here are some pics of my Chinese elm tree, in a few stages since i acquired it earlier this year... The above image is after re potting in apr 2015, the root flare had been tidied up and ugly crossing roots removed. the branch structure was tidied up also, removal of crossing...

www.bonsainut.com

 

[proninyaroslav]

I like June to do hard cut backs

Since it was wintering in a greenhouse, it woke up earlier and the leaves are beginning to harden now. So I think mid to late May would be a good option, right?

 

[BobbyLane]

Since it was wintering in a greenhouse, it woke up earlier and the leaves are beginning to harden now. So I think mid to late May would be a good option, right?

Should be fine