AusBonsai

Hi everyone
would like a bit of advice please, I have a chinese elm that i've been growing in the ground to fatten up . During the winter i decided it was at the right thickness so dug it up and chopped to the length I wanted as I'm wanting to grow a broom style , I put the collar on and everything but now that it has started to shoot off at the top I've decided that the trunk is still a bit to long and I want to cut at least another inch off. So here's the question should I let it grow for this season to recover and cut further down next season or would it be ok to cut it again this season
peterb

I would just recut now
Ken

I don't grow them anymore, but yeah I'm with Ken. My problem was never worrying about cutting back too often. These things are just weeds, plain and simple.

Thanks Ken / Rory , I'll chop it back then . One more question next season when I repot how much root can I take off . Reason I'm asking is there are crossing over roots etc that I would want to adress . Thanks in advance for the assitance
peterb

well, I've easily taken off about 70% of roots on stock before that I used to own and had no problems, they are quite hardy. But don't take my word as gospel. I have only had 3 in my life, normal leaf size, smooth bark. All of them were purchased from Ray Nesci. I just got disheartened with them and lost interest, and moved onto more natives.

Though I have to say that aged stock of the corky bark are quite nice.

Hi Peter,

You can hack off 2 thirds of the roots without any problems, especially if you do it at the end of Winter. Don't think I've ever lost one from too much root pruning! Always take the opportunity to improve the nebari when repotting, the longer you leave it the harder it is to rectify any problems.

Matt.

Yeh it's hard to cut off too many roots of a Chinese elm. Make sure that your tools are sharp as the roots are fleshy and most secateurs tend to crush (not cut) the roots. Virtually every root will grow as a root cutting so propogating is very easy to do.

You put the collar on... Taking it for a walk?

I normally cut 80% to 90% of roots off the elms I dig out of the grow beds. In my opinion the best time to do radical root reduction is when you first dig the trees from the grow beds because you will also cut most of the top. Later the tree has more branches to support so I take off less roots.
Even with some new branching you can easily take 3/4 of the roots off a Chinese elm. That should be enough to sort out your root problems next winter.

Thanks for that info guys, I'm looking forward to repotting this elm
Peterb

Hey Peterb, just wondering if you did the extra chop?
I have a Chinese elm that I just received that is in serious need of a trunk chop (and probably a root prune). I wasn't sure if I was able to do it now or if I have to wait until winter next year when it is dormant.

If you were able to do it and the tree was safe and healthy I figured I'd be able to do it too

Thanks
DK

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Hi B/B
Yes I did do another chop about 1 1/2" below the previous cut , I didn't do any rootwork as I'm wary of doing any rootwork on deciduous trees after leafing out . I'll do that during the late winter as I want to cut quite a lot of root away.

Hi Fredman sorry I didn't see your post earlier , yep took it for a walk had to give it the old Barbara Woodhouse treatment " SIT!! STAY!! "
peterb

Thanks Peterb



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Hi Fredman sorry I didn't see your post earlier , yep took it for a walk had to give it the old Barbara Woodhouse treatment " SIT!! STAY!! "

LoL...Good boy

You got all your thumbs held for them mighty Boks mate?

Hi Fredman
GO THE BOKKE