English Elm - Twin Trunk

[Watto]

Hi,
Just a couple of photos of an English Elm that is coming along. This tree was dug from the scrub in the winter of 2006 and given a severe "hair cut" but unfortunately I was unable to find the photo. Because I was able to get a reasonable amount of roots, I potted it into a large terracotta pot.
In 2009 it was put into its first bonsai pot and a front was decided upon. I see this more as a Mr & Mrs Elm as opposed to a Mother & Son style, but the trunk on the left has developed quite well, but the one on the right still needs considerable more work. There is a new apex being developed on the shorter trunk and hopefully in a year or so that will improve the look, and the development of the second branch on the shorter trunk should also help it along (fill in the gap).
In May 2007 I took the photo about a week to late to show the whole tree in yellow leaf, and this year I took the photo about a week too late to show this tree in its best yellow colour - but at least I'm consistent!
I will try to eliminate the bit of reverse taper in the next year or so, but overall I'm pleased with the results to date. The overall height has been reduced from well over 1200mm to now a bit under 600mm, and that shows of the trunk a lot better IMHO.
Hope you enjoy, and of course always happy to hear a critique or two.

[Craig]

I love it Watto Cheers mate

[hugh grant]

very nice, its coming along nicely. all it needs now is a little more branch development and it will be well on its way.

Hugh

[bodhidharma]

Now, this is a perfect candidate for a thread graft branch on the shorter right hand trunk to balance it out. This will take it from a nice tree to a great tree Watto.

[Guy]

would it be possible to give the trunks a further "6 degrees of separation"-ie I reckon it would help the apex development and the overall if the daughter was pushed out to the right a little, and have a thin view between

[kcpoole]

I agree with Both suggestions. More light between the trunks and graft a branch no the right.
should this trunk also be a little shorter?

Nice when the Foliage develops further

Ken

[Watto]

Thankyou for the ideas and suggestions. If I may, a couple of questions:
1) - Bodhi - do you think it possible to develope the very small branch near the large scar as the branch needed to fill in that gap? Is that where you are suggesting that I graft a branch?
2) - Guy and Ken - I spent about two years trying to reduce that gap and now you want me to increase it? Could you please expalin why it would be better wider? The right side trunk is a bit behind the main trunk so I think that the apex development will be OK to the right of and behind the main trunk, but I am of course open to lots of other views.
3) - Hugh - a couple more years of branch development and when the scars heal over it will be ready for the exhibition. I don't know what exhibition, but it is always fun to "show them off". Thanks for the comment.
Cheers
Watto

[bodhidharma]

If you can develop the little branch, great , but it will need to come down a little. If you intend to develop it you will need to stop trimming and start some foliage feeding. I envisioned the branch underneath the large scar with a thread graft. The problem with Elms i have encountered is that sometimes the branch you are trying to develop just does not co-operate and lags behind and sometimes not developing at all. Hence the graft might be a faster solution.

[Guy]

Thankyou for the ideas and suggestions. If I may, a couple of questions:
1) - Bodhi - do you think it possible to develope the very small branch near the large scar as the branch needed to fill in that gap? Is that where you are suggesting that I graft a branch?
2) - Guy and Ken - I spent about two years trying to reduce that gap and now you want me to increase it? Could you please expalin why it would be better wider? The right side trunk is a bit behind the main trunk so I think that the apex development will be OK to the right of and behind the main trunk, but I am of course open to lots of other views.
3) - Hugh - a couple more years of branch development and when the scars heal over it will be ready for the exhibition. I don't know what exhibition, but it is always fun to "show them off". Thanks for the comment.
Cheers
Watto

I reckon the parallel -ness of the lower trunks looks wrong and would be better if the daughter was starting to lean from lower down and that would also separate the two apexes

[kcpoole]

I think at the moment the 2 trunks blend in to one and looks like a "bumcrack" to me
with a little separation will look a more like separate trees joined at the base.

Ken

[Watto]

Bodhi - I will have another good look at the tree tomorrow and see if I can find a likely candidate for a thread graft. A branch below that large scar will help to heal over the cut, so a win/win position? I will probably keep that small branch as a back up.
Guy and Ken - I'm going to continplate your suggestion of giving more seperation. There will be really no more work until spring so I will think about it until then. Thanks.

[Watto]

I thought I would post a couple of photos of this tree now it is naked - this is the progression section after all. The first one is the "standard" look, and the second one is a photo taken from above the tree - it gives it a very differnt look!
Cheers

[Watto]

After I took these photos yesterday and had a good look at them - especially the one taken from above, it is clear to me that I need to do some more wiring and eliminate the straight branches and straight secondary branches. This will/should have two outcomes - one is improving the overall look of the tree, and the second is that it should reduce the width of the tree in certain areas. Hopefully that will be another small improvement?
Back to work (on this tree) in the very near future.
Do you think it needs a few new branches on both trunks or is it full enough when in leaf?
Cheers - Watto.

[Scott Roxburgh]

Nice work Watto.

It is a great tree, I agree that it needs a bit of wire and a trim back to remove some of the long straight branches but great none the less.

If it were mine, I would let a branch at the top of the larger trunks grow unrestricted for a season, and trim the smaller trunk below the scar then redevelop the apex.

I agree that some branch grafting would do some good too.

Great work mate.

[Watto]

Thanks for the suggestions Scott. There does seem to be a constant movement for me to reduce the size of one of the trunks. I'm am not against it perse but I am probably looking for a "non-standard" twin trunk. As I said at the start, more a Mr & Mrs as opposed to parent & child, however time will tell. If I can't make it look like I want, the reduction is always an option!
I didn't realise until I saw the view from above how many straight secondary branches there are on this. This weekend its back to the wiring to give them some shape.