....CHALLENGING ELM....

[Gabriel]

Hi guys here there is a tree that i have purchased last summer at garden world, nice trunk movement but with a really big scar big scar that needs to be carved, i dont have much experience with it and probably this is not the right tree to begin with but it cost me only 120 bucks and ithink it can be a nice bonsai one day....
I havent repotted yet so im nou sure whats under the soil...ive done a branch selection in the biginning but now i dont even know which front i like better.....hopefully you guys can help and please any ideas are welcome

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[Bretts]

I think you have done a great job so far Gabriel. Those scars don't look too bad. They might benefit from a little carving but getting lots of growth will be most important I would think.
I would recommend repotting in Early spring just as the buds begin to swell, as you probably know. This will be the next important stage as it is important to see the roots to decide on the front. I have found elms notorious for problematic root spread if not trained properly. Hopefully this one is one has some nice ones under the soil. It will not hurt the tree to have a bit of a look if you are impatient at the moment. I would think the root ball is secure enough that it could be removed from this container and the top surface of soil could be removed to have a look at what is going on in there. Just cover them back up with a bit of soil for a month or so until it is repotting time after.
It will be great if you could post another pic then.

[Gabriel]

Hi bretts thanks for your advices, i tried to have a look already but the soil is a bit like mud i need to bare root if i wanna see whats under.....
As you can see on the pictures where the scars are there is also a reverse taper it would not be a problem do the carving, my point is where im gonna grow the branches?
But i guess at this stage is not that important just cos i dont know where is my front,...

[Bretts]

Sorry I know how annoying it can be to get answers to questions you have not asked and none to the ones you have. As you say there is little piont to stipulating where you want branches until you get a good look at the roots. Even if the soil is mud the only reason I can think of that you can't get a look at the roots is if they are very badly positioned. If you are not comfortable with that though don't worry it will not be long before you can get in there with all the gutso necasarry to do the job well.

Looking over the pics again I should restate a little different what I said about carving the scars. There IS some small amount of carving that WILL need to be done 4.jpg is the most prominent. I would not say for sure that it will be a benifit to carve back any other scars without seeing the tree in person but if any scars are protuding outside the trunk line then carving is a possibility. I would not be too harsh though as it does not look too bad and with the roots soughted you will hopefully find that the base of the tree will improve any issue you think it has at the moment. And with the roots soughted into an outward spread and plenty of room for them to grow out the taper will improve and I believe with plenty of growth at this early stage this will shape up very well. The only question of time will be decided by the roots when uncoverd.

[Gabriel]

i think you right pal thanks again.

[Jester]

Nice tree, looks like it's well on it's way to becoming quite a showpiece

[Jarrod]

Doesn't look like a challange! looks like a lot of fun, enjoy it and have some fun. And get some movement in those branches regardless. Even if your not site what you wanna keep. (only viewing on small screen, I won't be held to anything a say!)

I do love it, great buy!