English Elm from root suckers

[MJL]

Even though I feel like I am progressing; a lot of times I’m just not sure what I’m doing.

I’ve admired some recent posts of older English Elms from Neil and Mike. And I remember some good stuff from Watto (I think) in the past too.

Recently I prepared these young trees to create new leaders. Today I chopped ‘em back.
Before

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After

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I’ve taken 1-3+ inches off the top of these trees; but probably not enough trimming of the little branches up top yet. I’m basically wanting to start the branch ramification process again. So I’ll go harder.

And this one

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I think this is about right in terms of cutting back ... but boy do I feel like I have taken a step back to take a step forward.

In the end, it matters not much. They are all from root suckers and have always been stock to learn on - that said, I hope they continue to progress.

I’ll repot in spring - probably just back into orchid pots for a while.

And I’ll see if I can hatch some kids over winter in the mini greenhouses. Unlikely to root but I’ll try. What not?

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Bonsai teaches me patience.
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[shibui]

I think this is about right in terms of cutting back ... but boy do I feel like I have taken a step back to take a step forward.

Great to see you have recognised this quite early. I have also found this is the best way to develop better bonsai. Pruning gives natural, more random bends than wiring and also gives us taper. Pruning also stimulates more buds so better ramification. Trying to grow the whole thing in one go gives long, uninteresting trunks and branches.

My EE rarely grow aggressively. I haven't even pruned this winter as there is little extension over summer on them.

[MJL]

I've had a wonderful day today. Of late, I have felt like I have had too many disasters.

Today was not one of those. I repotted my English elms because they were started to shoot! I am stoked with these. I feel I have (and continue) to encourage good nebari - noting that originally, these were dug/cut as root suckers with no nebari.)

These were overdue for a repot. I waited two years - should have been one. Anyway - when I scraped away the soil I was pleasantly surprised by the developing nebari and albeit overgrown - all was manageable. I'll let the pictures talk.

All still young but progressing nicely. I also re-arranged some of the trees and in one case - completely restyled.

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The a resettle to this

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to this

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I am not sure about the last picture - but it shows new growth ---- being eaten!!!!

[Ryceman3]

It’s easy to tell when you’re happy with your efforts MJL because there’s often a guy in a blue robe who gets to sit under a different tree and check the view from “new digs”!
Or maybe it’s not the same guy... in any case you get my drift.
You should be happy, improvements all round!

[SquatJar]

These are starting to look great, can see your skills improving with every post MJL

[MJL]

It’s easy to tell when you’re happy with your efforts MJL because there’s often a guy in a blue robe who gets to sit under a different tree and check the view from “new digs”!
Or maybe it’s not the same guy... in any case you get my drift.
You should be happy, improvements all round!

R3 your post makes me smile becuse it is spot on ... I have many of those little folk in different coloured outfits. Sadly, I often chat to them (in my head) when I move them too. Frightening on so many levels - but why shouldn’t they get a new view every now and then.

Anyway - on a more serious note - something is going right (or wrong) when I am excited by pictures of developing nebari! In the end, I used a different pot than below but I like the spread of roots here.

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[MJL]

Spring has sprung and all have settled after the re-potting.

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[MJL]

These have thrived with a repot. They are going coco bananas and spring has hardly sprung here in Melbourne ....

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Some larger leaves, so I am looking forward to defoliation in due course. (It is probably not a question with one answer but should I totally defoliate and when?) Historically with these, I have partially defoliated throughout the growing season. I have never had the guts to totally defoliate any of my younger deciduous trees.

Also, as I said, in a prior comment, I felt like I lost last years growing season with not a lot of vigour in these trees. Seems vigour has returned - perhaps I should start a yearly re-pot?

In truth, perhaps I should ground grow for vigour but I like my little bonsai pots ... still finding patience!

Regardless I am happy.

Have a good arvo.

Happy.

[melbrackstone]

Looking through these images from page 1 you can certainly see how patience has come into play. I like this progression, because it shows your skills maturing too. This is something I'm able to see in my trees now too... this is a bonus of being a part of this fabbo forum!

[MJL]

Haircut time ! These have flourished after their respective re-pottings. Time for their first haircut of the season. I have gone harder than ever before but maybe not hard enough. In many cases, have gone back to the first pair if leaves. I have cut back anything directly up and down and I have sometimes left a branch that I know I am going to replace in future... I am just letting the replacement branch grow and ramify a little bit first.

Steps back for steps forward. I still find it hard to cut back so much that I can't look at the tree.... I like to look at my trees; perhaps I'll get over that soon too and some trees will just have to sit in the background vying for their time in the sun. I am really gonna try much harder to ramify these suckers (literally) over the coming years.

The photos below provide an indication of before and after.

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[MJL]

Six weeks ago I gave these Elms their first haircut of the season; they have responded with joy!

Perhaps it's the weather or the season or that I knocked the tops off them earlier in the year. I prefer to think it is a combination of those factors and the re-potting too. As I noted in an earlier post, I felt that I lost a growing season last year. When I trimmed the trees back, I got little re-growth but this year bang. I think I'll repot these yearly now not every second year. If they react like this, I look forward to more speedy ramification. All three are going gangbusters - this is just two of them with a bit of light-editing to make it easier to see the new growth.

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[MJL]

Just a winter update on these three suckers.

I generally get all negative on the stuff that I do but I really like these... enjoying their annual improvement and while by no means highly ramified... they are on a reasonable path.

You'll also see that I previously styled one to be windswept ... I kissed that design goodbye and returned it to a clump a few months back and I am glad I did.

I am particularly liking the clump in image 74 below.

This winter post should give me something to compare to in years to come. And soon they'll be in pots better suited to their development phase and size too. I'll repot in early spring.

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[Raging Bull]

Looking good Mark! They are noticeably turning into quite solid little trees from the spindly little suckers you planted a few years ago.

[Raging Bull]

Looking good Mark! They are noticeably turning into quite solid little trees from the spindly little suckers you planted a few years ago.

[Watto]

This is a good story and good improvement. Keen to see them in 5 years.