Corky Bark Elm

[Theodore]

I have had this trunk chopped corky bark elm for a few years. Was looking a bit ratty so took to it with the trimmers.

At its next repot it will get tilted to the left a little to get the apex above the base and so the trunk doesn't come out of the ground as straight as it does now.

Any comments would be really appreciated.

Prior to today's effort



After the chopping and wiring



Theo




Sent from somewhere on planet earth using an iPad!

[Ray M]

Hi Sir Theodore,
That is a very nice piece of stock. Make sure you don't let the top branches get to thick compared to the rest of the tree.

Corky Chinese Elm -2.jpg

Regards Ray

[Theodore]

Thanks Ray.

Will certainly be putting the brakes on those two, or maybe looking at growing replacements!


Sent from somewhere on planet earth using an iPad!

[Gerard]

Nice taper, I think this will result in a very nice tree. I cannot help but notice a guy wire from the second branch to the soil.
The angle of the first branch is perfect, why would you try to bring the second branch into a horizontal position?

[Theodore]

Gerard

Thanks for the feedback. The guy wire is pulling down a secondary branch that was sitting a little high.

There are a couple of others that need doing as well but will do them when the planting position is rectified.

Theo


Sent from somewhere on planet earth using an iPad!

[matlea]

Would you start to pull down the right side in anticipation of tilting the tree to the left before hey become too thick?

[Theodore]

Good point Matlea, and thanks for the question.

They are already going to be really difficult to pull down. It may even stay the way it is and I could bring the apex over a bit.

I tend to make decisions very slowly when it comes to my trees. I'm not in any hurry!

Theo


Sent from somewhere on planet earth using an iPad!

[Mojo Moyogi]

Hi there Theo,
I agree with the others about this being a nice piece of stock, but I reckon the taper could be improved and make this a great piece of stock and beyond that, give it the potential to become a great bonsai.

Theo corky 01.jpg

The tree as it is now has a pretty nice flare at the base, really nice bark, the first trunk section has some good size about it. The second trunk section has great continuity, it would have been grown out to about 60-75% of the diameter of the trunk below it and as result, taper in the lower half of this tree is very good.


What I think you need to do to is grow the 3rd section of trunk, as indicated by the dotted line in the picture below, until it is around twice it's current diameter.

Theo corky 02.jpg

Then repeat this process for all remaining sections above, grow one out at a time, remember to reduce the length of these segments as the trunk ascends. Doing this would require a trunk chop about 4/5 of the way along the dotted line.

Yes you will lose the top of you tree that you have invested a bit of time in and yes it will take 3 years or more to get back to beginning work on the upper branches and apex. I reckon what you will have after the rebuild, is the foundation of a very good tree.

Cheers,
Mojo

[Boics]

Yep.
Completely agree with Mojo on this one.
The taper is jarring and non existent in the top half of the tree.
Will require more work no-doubt and really my belief is that this advise should have been provided earlier with all branching at the top being kept to promote the desired taper.

[matlea]

You may be able to thicken without cutting the top off if you have a sacrifice branch in the right place..

[Theodore]

Thanks for the comments Boics, Mojo and matlea.

This thing literally grows like a weed and I get sick of pinching and pruning it. Maybe I should stop feeding it so much

I will aim to thicken that section of trunk but I will more than likely do it by controlling the growth through pinching and selective pruning. I will also let a few branches at the back go to help with the thickening.

Here is what it looks like today, just three weeks after the photo that started this post.



It will get a haircut this weekend.

Theo



Sent from somewhere on planet earth using an iPad!

[Mojo Moyogi]

I can relate to them being like weeds Theo, that is the best thing and the worst thing about growing shohin Corkies. In your climate they must explode.

Cheers,
Mojo

[Theodore]

Thought I would post an update of this one starting to change for Autumn, or should I now say winter!

Once the leaves are gone it will get the usual winter clean out.

[zimzallabim]

Very nice

Sent from my D6683 using Tapatalk

[Homer911]

Should look amazing in a few years when ramified.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk