Advice with styling an Elm - Corky Bark

[bouquet]

Hello

I was wondering if I could ask for some help with styling a Corky Bark Elm. I have a couple ideas but thought I would ask before I went hacking away. I have only provided one picture for now but I am happy to provide more should it be needed.

[Andrew F]

As it stands now, not alot i can offer in the way of styling tips. Maybe just a low trunk chop, its got a nice base. Maybe air layer it for now and see where the bottom half pushed new growth. HTH.

[lackhand]

The glaring thing to me is that the main branch is too big to be a main branch, and too high and horizontal to be a secondary trunk. The way the taper is on the rest of the trunk, I think I would air layer it off right above that branch, and then you could have a slanting style or maybe even cascade using the current base and main branch. Once rooted, the top part would be on its way to a nice informal upright.

There are lots of options on this one though. Lots of thinking before whatever you decide. Good luck and let us know what you decide, thanks for posting!

[bouquet]

I think I would air layer it off right above that branch, and then you could have a slanting style or maybe even cascade using the current base and main branch. Once rooted, the top part would be on its way to a nice informal upright.

Is this the kind of thing you are suggesting.

If so it is time I started reading up on air layering. Not having used this technique yet it should be good for my skills. But now you have pointed out these options I can see what you are suggesting. Not only will I improve my bonsai skills/techniques, I will end up with 2 great trees

[fae]

I agree with Karl ,the main branch does not have tapper and would be better taken off.

It would be a good time to set the layer ready for the spring burst of growth.

Fiona

[Andrew Legg]

I think I would air layer it off right above that branch, and then you could have a slanting style or maybe even cascade using the current base and main branch. Once rooted, the top part would be on its way to a nice informal upright.

Is this the kind of thing you are suggesting.

If so it is time I started reading up on air layering. Not having used this technique yet it should be good for my skills. But now you have pointed out these options I can see what you are suggesting. Not only will I improve my bonsai skills/techniques, I will end up with 2 great trees

I think you need to give this tree some serious thought. If you look at the main trunk from the angle photographed, it has two serious problems. Two lumpy areas which provide both inverse taper in their immediate locations, as well as a general shape of no taper. Unless it looks very different from another angle, I'd suggest that this is almost useless material.

2013-07-15 09-26-30 AM.jpg

Where you do have potential with this tree is to cut it as you have shown. on your photo. Let's assume you have now done that. You now have the same problem with a knob of growth on the top of this one! That's gotta come off too as it will never grow out. If you look at area one and area two, they also have the same width. What I'd do is cut at the yellow line and plant it at roughly this angle and then grow a new top from there. Elms have fantastic ramification, so they can really produce nice smaller trees.

2013-07-15 09-31-14 AM.jpg

What you really must do (and I don't know for how long you've had this tree) is avoid getting those bulges!! Elms have a habit of throwing many branches from the same point, so what you need to do is as it grows out, ensure that through the growing season you always cut these back to one or two branches (probably 2). This avoids getting the knobs. The one thing you must do before you plant at a different angle is look at what the roots are doing. Perhaps a few more views of the tree and a close-up of the root area would be useful.

Cheerio,

Andrew

[bouquet]

Andrew

Thanks for the detailed review. I have not had the tree that long and when I purchased it i didn't review it like you have just done, maybe a lesson learnt.

I think I will still try and do the air layer for the main trunk part, just work on the tree and see what I can do with it.

I do like the way you went with the branch off to the left and I think I will take that is one approach that needs serious consideration.

I have only just re-potted the tree so I will try and show some of the current root structure from the surface. I will try and get a photo up by this time tomorrow.

Again thanks for the review, it has taught me a little more in what to look for in tree stock.

[Andrew Legg]

No problemo! Just good to consider that by useless stock, I mean useless for a fantastic bonsai, but no reason not to learn from it! Air-layering it is a good learning opportunity. You may want to chop off the top knob and see it you can strike it as a cutting? All worth a fiddle.

[Ray M]

I think I would air layer it off right above that branch, and then you could have a slanting style or maybe even cascade using the current base and main branch. Once rooted, the top part would be on its way to a nice informal upright.

Is this the kind of thing you are suggesting.

If so it is time I started reading up on air layering. Not having used this technique yet it should be good for my skills. But now you have pointed out these options I can see what you are suggesting. Not only will I improve my bonsai skills/techniques, I will end up with 2 great trees

Hi bouquet,
The photo in this post shows the right place to do the layer. At this stage just do the one layer. After this is taken off you can then do more layers off the new tree.

In the second photo that Andrew has shown, is the potential of a great tree.

2013-07-15 09-31-14 AM.jpg

The top will have to eventually come off to get rid of the big bulb that has formed. You could remove this top piece after the layer has been on for about a month. Give the layer another month and it will most probably have enough roots to remove the layer.

You will end up with several trees from this stock tree. You should be able to create a couple of very nice minis. The stock tree as shown in the photo will able to be developed reasonably quickly. The trees you can get off the layered tree will take more time to develop but this is what bonsai is all about. Have lots of fun.

Regards Ray

[bouquet]

Thanks all for the advice. Through this advice I now have a good direction in not only how to help shape the tree, but things to look out for when choosing stock and techniques used to achieve great looking bonsai.

I hope in years to come I can resurrect this thread and show a nice little tree from the advice received.

Cheers

[Andrew Legg]

Thanks all for the advice. Through this advice I now have a good direction in not only how to help shape the tree, but things to look out for when choosing stock and techniques used to achieve great looking bonsai.

I hope in years to come I can resurrect this thread and show a nice little tree from the advice received.

Cheers

Doesn't take too long with an elm. Check out my tree I did for the compo. Its had 2 growing seasons to get it from a trunk to where it is today. This coming summer will be it's third. for not having to wait too long for an update!

viewtopic.php?f=140&t=9055

Cheers,

Andrew