AusBonsai

Had a bit of a did around my next door neighbors front yard at the weekend.
He wanted me to get rid of (3) box so I dug them out and have set (2) up into grow boxes to get them going for a clean up in mid Spring.

The box were great but on 'sticky beaking around the yard I came across (3) Elm....One was showing signs that it is a 'Corky Bark on a couple of branches but the other two
are branched and twigged very fine.
As there is a very large 'Corky bark in the yard I first though all were suckers from the big tree but when removing them from 2 or 3 meters away from the adult they were all 'stand alone trees'.

One has a ground level butt of around 50mm that fast tapers to about 15mm 30 cm from the ground before it 'forks. (which I have cut back to (2) forks per branch])

The 2nd is rather tall (150 cm) and looks like it has been styled with numerous main branches and very fine twigging.
( I am going to grow this one out at the height harvested and see if through it's grow phase I can 'air lay it back a bit)

The 3rd was what I would say is a 'beauty.
It was 200cm tall. It had dead wood 60cm from the ground which I have removed about 75mm from the 'live wood.(Insect infestation many years ago seems to have caused dead wood)
Branches are again mature with very fine twigging and almost in the right places which I have guyed down rather than wire as really I think they are just right with a little tension to bring them down just above 'horizontal.
A natural 'APEX fork has a little wiring to eventually become a rather interesting taper.
Butt is 170mm at level and natural taper rises to 50mm over a height of around 55cm with massive root spread that will look OK with out too much work .

I guessing they are all 'Corky Bark as of the Adult tree near by but maybe not.

Will upload some pics soon as I can and have got to get into a habit of taking pic's of the dig and progression with 'pot up and so on as it goes.
Regards Steve.

Steve if the neighbour has a large elm then they would most likely be self seeded from that tree.


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Nice work!

Hi Steve,
If your tree is 'corky' on the branches but not the trunk I'd say you are looking at an English elm rather than the corky bark variety of Chinese elm. All English elms get corky wings on the branches but it seems to drop off or gets grown over as they grow so is not present on older branches or trunks. English elm still makes great bonsai but is not 'corky bark'.
English elm rarely seeds but does sucker prolifically. Over time the suckers develop their own root system, often the original root then withers somewhat and maybe the original roots has been cut by gardening activity to leave a 'stand alone' tree.

Chinese elms do self seed and they also sucker, especially when the roots are cut by gardening activity. Buds are a little different and Chinese elms often don't lose their leaves unless it gets very cold. When it leafs out you will know the difference.
Look forward to seeing the pictures.

shibui wrote:Hi Steve,
If your tree is 'corky' on the branches but not the trunk I'd say you are looking at an English elm rather than the corky bark variety of Chinese elm. All English elms get corky wings on the branches but it seems to drop off or gets grown over as they grow so is not present on older branches or trunks. English elm still makes great bonsai but is not 'corky bark'.
English elm rarely seeds but does sucker prolifically. Over time the suckers develop their own root system, often the original root then withers somewhat and maybe the original roots has been cut by gardening activity to leave a 'stand alone' tree.

Chinese elms do self seed and they also sucker, especially when the roots are cut by gardening activity. Buds are a little different and Chinese elms often don't lose their leaves unless it gets very cold. When it leafs out you will know the difference.
Look forward to seeing the pictures.

Thanks to all.
By the fine branches and twigging it seems the leaves will be naturally small. ( My neighbor collection)
I'm of the mind that the tiny leaves seem most prevalent on 'suckers and possibly self sown trees that I have for many years drooled over along the railway embankment heading out from Princes Bridge on the Clifton hill Group.
Adult huge Elms grow along garden area near Brunton Ave /MCG.
Privy I am to seeing these as a train driver but unable to harvest due the dangers of the embankment and very close proximity to the actual rail line.
Alas some fine exotic Pines (Scott's I think) grow along this same embankment and remain dwarfs by 'expert foliage removal management (Yeah sure they are experts at minimum wage or less).

Try to take a few pics for tomorrows post.
Steve.

The elms along Brunton ave, St Kilda rd and many other Melb roads are English elm - Ulmus procera. They do sucker prolifically if given the opportunity and I'd guess that is what you are also seeing on the railway cuttings. Smaller leaves are usually due to tougher conditions - lack of water or poor soil - and will return to full size when given adequate food and water but can be reduced again with good bonsai culture.

I am sure that they must be able to grow from seed but I have not come across seedlings, only suckers from the roots of a nearby (sometimes long gone) tree.

I have just checked another website that says it can be germinated from seed but a high proportion of seed is not viable (thank goodness because they produce vast quantities of seed) Maybe conditions are right in Boronia for seed to germinate??

The large Elm from the neighbors yard.

(Again I' forgetting to remove the date stamp..Today Aug 7 2015

Grow box is plastic parts storage tray 400x300x80mm ( I also have the 600x400x110mm )

Height of stump is 650mm
Steve