Airlayer of a Chinese Elm

[archie1979]

Hey Everyone,
Well despite my predicament at the moment I decided to risk sitting up for a while and attacked my elm today and have now attached a nice air-layer. Hopefully I wont kill the damn thing. Nothing ventured nothing gained. I decided to layer this one as you can see the trunk is quite straight and the length of the trunk from the soil line to the first branch is quite a way up. So one solution was to just remove the top of the tree but what a waste so the air layer. For the top half I am hoping to create a formal upright and as for the bottom I am not sure yet it has a mass spread of roots at the base.

Roots

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First remove the layers

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Now add the Sphagnum Moss

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Now we wait and see if it works

2 trees for the price of one hahahaha

Feel free to comment I am by no means a layering expert.


Archie

[63pmp]

Hi Archie,

Wrap the cling wrap with some al-foil, if the sun gets onto the clear layer of cling wrap it will cook the sphagnum moss. Personally I would have layered the tree higher up, but that's just my personal choice. Rotate the tree regularly, every week, this will help with uniform root development.

Paul

[archie1979]

Hey Paul,
Thanks for the info I have just run outside and covered the layer with al-foil. Thanks for that I totally forgot about it.

Archie

[kvan64]

Hi Archie, Paul is right about roots and moss gettting burnt if not covered. I would use al foil in sumer and some black/dark plastic or cloth to cover during winter or early spring as it help absorb the heat required for quick root development (same technology/idea with black plastic pots).
Cheers,
DK