AusBonsai

I purchased this seiju elm today, I liked the base of it and I already have a small seiju elm that I have been working on for a year that I am very fond of, so wanted to try my hand at some larger stock. There a four extra shoots growing in the same pot which I will remove and make into new trees.

I have not worked with older larger stock before so are after a little bit of advice. I have a few corky bark and chinese elms which I can do whatever to and they don't care but have heard seiju elms can be a little bit more temperamental.

The branches at the moment are long and twiggy with only leaves at the ends. I think this is because of where it was located in the nursery with a lot of plants close together light would have only got to the top branches. To promote leaf growth in closer should I cut the branches right back to stumps in one hit or should I reduce to the last secondary branch with leaves and then repeat this process as back budding occurs (over a couple of seasons)?

Where the old bark is on the trunk down low would this be likely to develop some buds when more light penetrates and the tree hasn't got as much foliage at the top? I think the first and second branches are too far apart for the width of the trunk so would like to do something here. I like the shape of the trunk to that point so are not that keen to trunk chop to the first branch if there are other options.

Thanks for any advice.

I think you are right about why this tree only has leaves at the tips. seiju appear to be very upright dominant if given the chance and grow strong, vertical branches unless pruned regularly.

I have found that mine produce huge numbers of new shoots when pruned hard, even down to older wood so i would prune wherever you want in 1 go. Remember that 2 trunks high in the tree is not a good look unless you are growing broom style.

A cut back revealed a few buds ready to go on the trunk. It also revealed some pretty big bulges were multiple branches had been allowed to grow from previous cuts so I did a trunk chop. Another stick in a pot for the wife to screw her nose up at .

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Shinkitai wrote:A cut back revealed a few buds ready to go on the trunk. It also revealed some pretty big bulges were multiple branches had been allowed to grow from previous cuts so I did a trunk chop. Another stick in a pot for the wife to screw her nose up at .

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It's funny coz it's true. I have a Seiju that I trunk chopped because of reverse taper and the wife hates it.

I'm super wary of Seijus and reverse taper now though.