AusBonsai

Hey all, Ive finally gotten around to taking a few pics of an elm I am trying to style into broom. I have posted about this tree before and received some helpfull advice. Thought I would pop a few pics up to show what I am working with and hopefully have a bit more advice thrown my way. . History of this elm/zelkova I beleive. is it was bought as nursery stock a few years back, straight and tall about 2 plus meters tall with no low branches. I promptly asked the nursery guy for a pair of tree loppers and cut all but a metre off the top. (I love the looks on their faces when you do this ). Any hoo got it home and did a vee cut, too high and then tried broom style but it got too leggy and i only did it with one branch . Soooooo now with advice i have received here trying it again. Questions as follows:

1) I have selected the long branches at what point to i cut them back to start more branching developing?
2) Do you wait for the new growth to harden off before you pinch back to encourage branching and back budding or can i do it now?

It looks like it is already throwing off buds from the 5 long main branches off the trunk so I am assuming its ok to cut back now?????

Any advise here would be most appreciated

Hi phif555, Zelkova -Japanese gray bark elms are prolific growers and bud at the leaf nodes easily . Working a tree is is a matter of choice .Where the new branches exits the trunk they tend to swell 2-3 fold compared to the thickness of the branches so allowing them to grow up to 600mm and thicken before cutting them back to the second set of leaves/branching does reduce the unsightly swelling look .They begin to grow side shoots after a few sets of leaves have developed and whilst the branch is still elongating. Once the apex has begun to build it should be reduced or pinched back to the first set of leaves on the upper section and the second set of leaves on the lower section .

I don't wait for the new shoots to harden off before trimming back . My tree's are hit hard and constantly . The result is smaller leaves over the entire tree. I'm considering defoliating a big trunk to see how they perform although i'm quite happy with the results so far .. Still in the trial and error phase to see if it is beneficial or not . Hope this helps .

Cheers Alpineart

Thanks Alpineart, as always your advice is appreciated. In your personal opinion, where this your tree, would you trim back those 5 main branches now (to the 2nd or 3rd set of leaves) or wait until they grow on to the 600mm then chop back??

Thanks in advance

Phil

Hi Phil , i would allow it to grow on at least 600mm , it wont take long . The cut back to the second set of leaves .From there i would cut back or pinch out every every tip after 3 sets of leaves for the rest of this season . They will be quite small and numerous . In winter trim back all over to 2 sets of leaves/branches , then be prepared to monitor it closely when spring arrives . Mine in full flight can produce 4-6 sets of leaves per week so its , from a trunk chop about 2 years ago after i multi air layered the top off .

Currently layering 1 of the air layered trainers and its powering on .I wont trim it because i need the growth to develop the roots required .Winter it will be removed and both will be cut back to 2 sets of leaves/branches , and the process continues . Hope this helps .

Cheers Alpine

Hi Alpine,

Thanks for the detailed info, its exactly what I needed. Again, much appreciated and I will post pics of progression when it starts looking more like a tree rather than a stick in a pot