help with training an elm please

[peterb]

Hi All
Here's the little shohin elm I was talking about in Watto's post on his elms, What I'm wanting to know is the best way to get ramification in the branches , I know the usual way is grow 5-6 pairs of leaves and cut back to 1pair , but is there a specific time one cuts back as in when one trains pines or is it from when they start growing in spring. The reason I'm asking is last year when I started training this elm it only seemed to have one growth spurt and when I tried to grow a leader and cut that back , it didn't grow anymore but died back and grew a new shoot this year as you can see in one of the photos. So assistance would be greatly appreciated , sorry one more question do I grow in full sun here in Adelaide or would a little shade be better . Thanks guys and gals
peterb

[bodhidharma]

The dieback is very normal on a E.E but they will always throw a shoot further back, which you cut back too, and use. I have found it best to leave the dieback for a year and let the off shoot grow. Dont know why but it works better with less die off. To develop ramification let the tree grow for a season and the following season cut back to the first secondary. Follow this formula for about five years. You will also be developing tertiary branching till that time. Once you have branching then you can defoliate leaves to reduce size and develop ramification. Your tree is a little young yet so i would be following this formula/plan.

[peterb]

Thanks bodhi , that's fantastic so should i be wiring these young branches to get some movement
Peters

[bodhidharma]

Thanks bodhi , that's fantastic so should i be wiring these young branches to get some movement
Peters

That would depend on if you want the branches down or up. I have used both methods and if you want the branches down then wire. If facing up i would use the above method for a while and then wire into place. Elm branches stay flexible for a long time. Dont be afraid to cut as it can be daunting to cut off a years growth.

[shibui]

As to the other question - Although these are pretty tough trees i find that mine in bonsai pots do far better with some shade so assume that with Adelaide being a bit hotter and drier shade would be best for EE.

[peterb]

Thanks Shibui,, where I have it , it gets dappled shade . So I'll leave where it is.
Peters