What to do? Chinese Elm

[Josh7]

I saved this Chinese Elm from the woodchipper a couple of years ago, then cut it appx 50cm from gound level. What ideas do you guys have for it?



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[Josh7]

I have been preparing it for side and back branches/ foliage pads, with a rounded canopy. I think i may need to concentrate on getting the new leader at top grow higher and thicker, before worrying too much about foliage pads.

[craigw60]

Hi Josh,
Your tree looks really nice and healthy. I would thin the foliage at the top of the tree. It is very easy to get strong growth in the crown but much more difficult to keep it fine. Don't try to make it too tall remember less is more in bonsai. When training a tree the more wire you use the better the tree will be, I would wire the whole tree right out to the branch tips. There are some very strong roots it may be better to bury the root base to encourage some nice fine roots so you can in years to come remove some of those big heavy roots.
Craig

[Jamie]

re- the roots, a ground layer would work perfectly for this beast and bring the height down to a nice size to the thickness of the tree

nice material, elms are apically dominent, if you thin the apex out like advised it will help push branching lower, and wiring is a definite must

[Josh7]

Jamie, Craig - thanks for your ideas. I still have my 'L' plates on, and will have for a few more years. Your advice is appreciated.
Definately will thin out the crown to show more/some of the branch structure. Then see what happens over the next short while re roots and height to first lateral branch.
Will upload pics as i work on this.