Removing Bark from an Elm

[Craig]

G'day all,

There's a technique sometimes used in Bonsai which with certain species of trees involves removing the Bark from the trunk.

One reason this can be done is to grow new bark which is more in scale with the size of the tree/trunk.

I would like to know if anyone has heard of, been taught, seen or used this technique on Chinese elms.

Any info you can share would be greatly appreciated please,

[Paulneill]

I have never heard of this but I have one that I trunk chopped low and is loosing all it's bark I think snails eating loose bark and being wet started this happening the tree is still growing well

[Craig]

thanks Paul, any pics mate.


Anyone , any info , anything , something , nothing ,

[Pup]

thanks Paul, any pics mate.


Anyone , any info , anything , something , nothing ,

I have heard of this procedure, but having no experience of it or seen any results I really cannot comment.

Sorry mate

[Joel]

Sorry. Only knew about it with junipers.

[Paulneill]

I posted a subject called ( chinese elm bark dying pictures ) so type that into search and there is a picture of 2 of my elms. the smaller one is now loosing all its bark and i am brushing it now and again with a nylon brush and it is looking good . I was very new to bonsai when got these trees and over watered them they were constantly sopping wet over the winter then when i re-potted them i noticed the bark coming away from around the trunk that was in the soil . i am layering a few emls at the moment and have noticed the bark around the sphagnum is dark and water logged elm bark seems to soak up water and hold it. so i reckon by wrapping your tree in sphagnum and cling wrap and keeping it wet promotes the bark to go all soft and mushy . then when it dries out it can simply be brushed away . but i would be in a rush to scrape / brush it off.

[Dario]

Here is the link to the thread you were refering to Paul...
viewtopic.php?f=130&t=9113&p=99275&hili ... res#p99275
Cheers, Dario.

[Paulneill]

thanks Dario sorry just re read my my last message i ment i wouldn't be in a hurry to remove the bark.

[Craig]

Thanks Pup,Dario,Joel,,Cheers Paul, i remember that thread,,

My situation is completely different to wet or rotting bark, early this spring i ever so lightly ran a blowtorch over the bark on my Elm, 5mths on and the bark is splitting apart naturally,exposing the phloem (inner bark),,

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The problem is this flaking bark is no good for the look of my tree ,I have always thought the bark looked wrong for this tree, like it came from a larger tree, it generally reminded me of the elm before it was chopped. I'm keen to push boundaries, so i have decided to remove it altogether and regrow the outerbark ,

I have observed previously that where the rolling over of the carved section has healed the appearance of the bark is much finer, very small fissures and bark scales(for lack of a better description). I have already very carefully removed most of the bark from the trunk, it is a very light browny colour, you can near on see thru it. I strongly believe this will bring my tree up to a whole different level from where it is now,,,, Maybe a first in Aus ,,

[shibui]

Craig,
From youp pic the peeling bark appears to me to be the natural and annual shedding of bark by smooth barked Chinese elm. My smooth barked chinese elms also shed bark just like this and have done so each year without the use of a blowtorch which is why I'm suggesting this is a normal process.
This is what so attracts me to this smooth barked variety - they end up with a lovely mottled leopard pattern of greys, browns and orange.

The corky bark chinese elm variety is very different. The outer bark stays attached as the tree grows and ends up in thick ridges and deep furrows. Many years ago I accidentally rubbed off the corky ridges of bark near the base of one of my trees while repotting. note this is not 'removing the bark', just rubbing off some of the accumulated corky layers of dead bark.This resulted in the trunk looking thicker above so I resorted to rubbing the rest of the corky bark off the trunk. As the tree grew the cork returned but looks better as the new ridges are more in scale with the size of the trunk.

[Craig]

Thanks very much Shibui. every year ? I have had this elm for quite some time now and never seen the bark crack at all,never mind shed it's bark, I don't doubt your knowledge but remain puzzeled . Maybe the trunk chop took it's toll and slowed the growth rate down considerably (even tho the tree grows strong every year), Last season was a very strong growing year for this tree and looks like this year will be the same,, maybe the tree has regained it's strength and vigour enough after 5 years from the initial chop and can now carry on in it's true growth habit. If a pic of the bare trunk will help further the conversation i can post one ,no problem, i don't know ,it's all very trippy stuff thanks again mate

[Craig]

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