AusBonsai

Hi Treehugger,

I've watched this thread with interest as I also enjoy elms. Something has been bothering me though, and it's time for me to pipe up!

Firstly, good job so far mate. I think you have grown the tree pretty well. As elms are fast growers and typically apical ly dominant, I think it's time to ask the difficult question, and potentially take a plunge to get this tree looking really good. The suggestion is simply, from what I can see of the tree's early development, it is a bit taperless and the trunk is very thin higher up. Elms grow like stink, so, were this tree mine, I'd consider cutting it down by about 30% in height and then just let all branches grow uncut for a full season. This will do two things. Firstly it will make the tree look rubbish for a while, and secondly it will with a stroke of luck make the trunk thicker relative to the tree size. You can regrow the canopy in the two years that follow while cutting back the entire tree hard in the dormant period, or potentially twice annually if it grows strongly.

So the reason for this treatment is to improve the tree's trunk thickness relative to it's branch structure, which gives a better impression of age, while at the same time getting good taper and shape to your branches. Of course this is best done in a growing on pot.

Here's a link to my competition elm. Take note of how I cut back hard for good basic structure early on and grew from there. I think you can improve this basic structure in your tree. viewtopic.php?f=140&t=9055

Cheers,

Andrew

Thanks all for your words of encouragement and kind words.

Thank you Andrew for taking the time to pass on your advice.... I have to say I'm slightly shattered by what you said but it makes total sense. I thought I had a tree pretty close to being a bonsai and now you've given me more to think about, which is much appreciated
Had a good look at your link too.....nice work!! I'm elm inspired

LOL. Sorry bud. I've come to a realisation that made my bonsai better. Is it the best it can be, and if not, make the change now and don't waste time. Be ruthless. This tree is a perfect candidate for this treatment. It's a nice little tree with the leaves on because you can't see the problems I described. Question is, do you want a nice little tree, or do you want a kick-ass one? It's the investment in kick-ass and unique that I'm trying to get myself to make in my trees.

Good luck.

Time for a progression update on this Chinese elm
I carved the saw cut of the straight second branch that you can see in the earlier pics

Time for a progression update on this Chinese elm
I carved the saw cut of the straight second branch that you can see in the earlier pics[/quote]

[quote="TreeHugger"]

Hi, can admin please delete this and the above post time stamped 2:13pm
It was a mistake and I'm not sure how to delete this from my phone
Thanks
Lee

It’s been 4 years since I last updated the progression of this Chinese elm.
I think it’s coming along nicely.

Constructive comments appreciated

Calloused over from original second trunk removal way back when.

After some sound advice from Andrew I couldn’t bring myself to chopping the trunk and starting again