chinese elm chop
- peterb
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chinese elm chop
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
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
- kcpoole
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Re: chinese elm chop
I would just recut now
Ken
Ken
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- Rory
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Re: chinese elm chop
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.
Rory
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I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
- peterb
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Re: chinese elm chop
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
peterb
Last edited by peterb on October 13th, 2015, 2:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Rory
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Re: chinese elm chop
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.
Though I have to say that aged stock of the corky bark are quite nice.
Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
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Re: chinese elm chop
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.
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.
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Re: chinese elm chop
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.
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Re: chinese elm chop
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.
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.
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chinese elm chop
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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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
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited by bonsai_beginner on October 22nd, 2015, 2:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- peterb
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Re: chinese elm chop
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
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
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Re: chinese elm chop
LoL...Good boyHi 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!! "
You got all your thumbs held for them mighty Boks mate?