AusBonsai

Hi everyone,

This tree was coming out of the ground to make way for a new fence.

I'm not sure what it is but am thinking an Ash. I am pretty sure I've done a hatchet job on it

Can anyone help?

not an ash, i dont think, looks more like an elm??? bout all i can tell you. Hope it survives.

Jarrod

I would vote for 'elm' as well. Definitely not ash as an ash has compound leaves. If you are thinking bonsai, there is a large reverse taper - you would have to cut it low or plan to do some carving to try to rectify it. Worth a go. It doesn't float my boat but I'm only seeing a photo and one side... it could become magic in your hands. Always worth a try.

Thanks Jarrod and Melaquin. Was just looking in some books and I think you are on the money with an elm.

The poor thing has been destroyed over quite a few years before I bought the house. It was buried around the "nobody goes there" side next to the neighbours driveway.

The two main trunks were badly scared and straight and it had terrible reverse taper so thought I'd cut it back hard and hope for the best for it.

Probably butchered but in the 15 minutes I had to get it out I could get lucky.

Thats pretty much what i would have done with it, now leave it to recover for a couple of years and you will have lots of branches to select from. you will need to carve out he cuts to try to hal them, or make a feture out of them.

Nice work

could be an elm, but looks a bit silvery on the back of the leaf & the bark seems a bit wrong for an elm. might be an alder, i can't be sure. i wouldn't be concerned about the reverse yaper. i would remove the 2 left hand trunks & lay the tree to the left, this would give the impression of a fatter nebari & give the tree some taper. what do all the others think?

I am pretty sure you have inherited an english elm...ulmas procera which make damned fine bonsai. Very underrated.

Thanks everyone,

I've looked at pics from references and I'm sure it's an common elm (which I believe is the English Elm Bodhidharma).

I really hope this guy survives it's rough rebirthing.

I'm intending on carving the trunk, Any ideas on when I should do this ( I imagine after a few years and branch selection and development has taken place ).

Cheers
John

no prob that will survive! success rate with elms is even better at bud birst and they dont need many roots. as far as carving get the tree growing strong select som branches and allow them to thicken then carve to your hearts content. 2yrs should do it. enjoy tech its a nice one.

HA HA!

I went away for a week with work and guess what?????

The trunk has gone crazy with new leaves and buds all over it!

Will post a pic tomorrow

Tech