[Tutorial] Defoliation and root prune of Ulmus Procera

[Watto]

Excellent progression, and thanks for showing us. If I may - a quick question. Are the new leaves smaller? If yes, how much smaller? And are these leaves smaller that those Elglish Elms that you defoliated earlier in the season? (That's really one question, honest).
In our area we get the opportunity to dig some quite good English Elms so this info has been most helpful, and much appreciated.
Cheers
Watto

[bodhidharma]

Excellent progression, and thanks for showing us. If I may - a quick question. Are the new leaves smaller? If yes, how much smaller? And are these leaves smaller that those Elglish Elms that you defoliated earlier in the season? (That's really one question, honest).
In our area we get the opportunity to dig some quite good English Elms so this info has been most helpful, and much appreciated.
Cheers
Watto

G'day Watto, I will post leaf sizes for you today to compare the differences.

[bodhidharma]

These are the leaves from various Elms, off various trees in my Nursery. The reduction is startling off the same species.

The first leaf is off an 60 year old tree that is growing on.
The second leaf is off my favourite Elm defoliated twice this year.
The third leaf is off the tree being used here..also defoliated twice
The fourth leaf is off an Elm i have defoliated on a regular yearly basis. The leaves now come out this small every year if i keep it potbound by only repotting every second year.
Hope this info is off use to you .

[dragon]

guys
i fully defoliated 2 chinese elms 2 weeks ago and took a cutting and the 2 which were defoliated are now fully leaved
and the cutting with no roots on it at all has leafed up and looking good
dean

[Boics]

This is a great thread and exactly what I was looking for.
My question is.

I'd I have an English elm that I wish to bulk up.

Would defoliation and the subsequent force of another flush actually be beneficial for trunk thickening?

OK another one.

How many flushes of leaves should an elm produce naturally in a year?

Cheers.

[Gerard]

This is a great thread and exactly what I was looking for.
My question is.

I'd I have an English elm that I wish to bulk up.

Would defoliation and the subsequent force of another flush actually be beneficial for trunk thickening?

OK another one.

How many flushes of leaves should an elm produce naturally in a year?

Cheers.

I expect that the force of a new flush of leaves would only be of benefit if the leaf mass was increased allowing for the time without leaves. Sacrifice branches might be something you should consider.
How many flushes naturally = only one.

[GavinG]

Agree with Gerard. If you want to bulk up, grow long, cut back, use sacrifice branches. Defoliation is only to increase ramification and reduce leaf size - you would usually use it in the late stages of refinement, not when you are building trunk girth, shape and taper.

And yes, you can see a second flush of fresh growth at the ends of elm branchlets in late summer, but the spring leaves don't fall - the new leaves just extend the spring growth. It's not like defoliation, which is a false winter and full leaf loss. Hope this helps.

Gavin

[Meagi]

Great thread


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[BB Brian]

ive practiced partial defoliation over the last few years and now im keen to try full defoliation closer to end of the year to improve ramification on my elms
strong growing season to all! Bud burst imminent with temps like this, feels like earl Spring already.