a question about elms

bonsaibeginer · Post by **bonsaibeginer** » March 4th, 2014, 11:33 am

Hi everyone
this is a question for those people that grow elms as evergreen
trees... I know that depending on your climate and seasons, elms can be evergreen but I was wandering how often and when do you defoliate?
Any help with "evergreen" elms would be helpful.
Thanks Grant

bonsaibeginer · Post by **bonsaibeginer** » March 4th, 2014, 12:12 pm

Thanks to whoever deleted that double post... teach me to leave my phone with my kids after I post something

treeman · Post by **treeman** » March 4th, 2014, 12:22 pm

The only ''evergreen'' elm I know of is the chinese (some forms) These do not require defoliation. All the others with medium to large leaves can be leaf cut in mid summer when the leaves become rough to the touch.

bonsaibeginer · Post by **bonsaibeginer** » March 4th, 2014, 5:10 pm

Thanks treeman
this was marked as a parviflora but doesn't drop any leaves, instead they go "crispy" towards the end of summer.
Thanks for the help

Elmar · Post by **Elmar** » March 4th, 2014, 11:02 pm

Crispy and rough - yes, I've noticed that on mine just recently!
I thought it was too dry and not receiving enough water... So this is natural, sweet. I'm off the hook... I think!?!?

That's why I have chosen to get to know my trees before I go "Kung-fu Panda" on them. I don't want to kill any more and at times I'm sooo thick!

Cheers
EZ
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

bonsaibeginer · Post by **bonsaibeginer** » March 5th, 2014, 8:25 am

I'm in the same boat EZ...ie not knowing much
but I decided to jump ahead and defoliate on Saturday and I've already got bud swell all over the tree... I just don't know whether this is the right time...

Grant Bowie · Post by **Grant Bowie** » March 5th, 2014, 11:17 am

Chinese elms (ulmus parvifolia) are listed as semi deciduous and in places like Port Mac and further north they may not loose their leaves at all going into winter.

The old leaves are then forced off in spring by the new growth or sometimes the old leaves don't drop till later leaving it looking a bit messy.

Grant

Elmar · Post by **Elmar** » March 6th, 2014, 4:54 pm

Grant Bowie wrote:Chinese elms (ulmus parvifolia) are listed as semi deciduous and in places like Port Mac and further north they may not loose their leaves at all going into winter.

The old leaves are then forced off in spring by the new growth or sometimes the old leaves don't drop till later leaving it looking a bit messy.

Grant

Port Macquary is similar in weather to Perth?!? I picked up a 'Big Green Shed' Chinese Elm and since bringing it to Hedland it has grown heaps! The base has almost doubled in thickness, and is putting out shoots everywhere. I've only had it since early December 2013, and I intend to go easy on it and try to note down its gown habits. Guess I'll find out soon enough what it does … Read somewhere we have more than one growing season so here's hoping!

Next plan is to try it using the colander growth method, either this one or a native that I have to get bigger ...

Pup · Post by **Pup** » March 6th, 2014, 6:35 pm

CoGRedeMptioN wrote:
Grant Bowie wrote:Chinese elms (ulmus parvifolia) are listed as semi deciduous and in places like Port Mac and further north they may not loose their leaves at all going into winter.

The old leaves are then forced off in spring by the new growth or sometimes the old leaves don't drop till later leaving it looking a bit messy.

Grant
Port Macquary is similar in weather to Perth?!? I picked up a 'Big Green Shed' Chinese Elm and since bringing it to Hedland it has grown heaps! The base has almost doubled in thickness, and is putting out shoots everywhere. I've only had it since early December 2013, and I intend to go easy on it and try to note down its gown habits. Guess I'll find out soon enough what it does … Read somewhere we have more than one growing season so here's hoping!

Next plan is to try it using the colander growth method, either this one or a native that I have to get bigger ...

I don't know about that we do not get that sort of humidity here we have had no rain for 3 months so no humidity. My elms are left to there own devices as far as dropping leaves are concerned, some do some don't.
Cheers Pup

siddhar · Post by **siddhar** » March 6th, 2014, 6:59 pm

I decided to jump ahead and defoliate on Saturday and I've already got bud swell all over the tree... I just don't know whether this is the right time...

Chinese Elms are as tuff as guts. I wouldn't worry at all about defoliating between the months of spring, right through summer and then give it a rest as you approach winter.
Growers have had fantastic results from defoliating Chinese Elms. Its a tedious process but can reward you with fantastic results.

Keep the fertiliser and water up and you should have no dramas at all.

bonsaibeginer · Post by **bonsaibeginer** » March 6th, 2014, 7:56 pm

I wouldn't know too much about the weather down there in Perth or Port Mac but up here we don't get below 10 deg for too many days of the year so my growing season is quite long...
I can say that the growing on in colander definitely works for me. I have all of my "growing on" trees in colander which helps with the growth and root pruning and rotation of plants in the sun.

trident76 · Post by **trident76** » March 6th, 2014, 9:51 pm

Why defoliate a chinese elm?
Most defoliation is done to reduce leaf size, and chinese elm have pretty small leaves even when left to grow freely...

Pup · Post by **Pup** » March 6th, 2014, 10:07 pm

trident76 wrote:Why defoliate a chinese elm?
Most defoliation is done to reduce leaf size, and chinese elm have pretty small leaves even when left to grow freely...

Ramification is another reason for defoliation, as well strength building certain parts of the tree.

Ray M · Post by **Ray M** » March 7th, 2014, 10:41 am

Hi all,
I had a interesting experience last year. I was going off on holidays and my neighbor waters for me when I'm away. Apparently there were some extremely hot days and the trees suffered somewhat concerning watering. When I came home my Chinese Elms had lost their leaves. At first I wasn't sure if they would pull through. I gave them some Seasol and yes, they pulled through beautifully. The side benefit was smaller leaves. The trees actually looked very good. I don't recommend defoliating that way,

but it certainly made the trees look very nice.

Regards Ray

Pup · Post by **Pup** » March 7th, 2014, 9:21 pm

Ray M wrote:Hi all,
I had a interesting experience last year. I was going off on holidays and my neighbor waters for me when I'm away. Apparently there were some extremely hot days and the trees suffered somewhat concerning watering. When I came home my Chinese Elms had lost their leaves. At first I wasn't sure if they would pull through. I gave them some Seasol and yes, they pulled through beautifully. The side benefit was smaller leaves. The trees actually looked very good. I don't recommend defoliating that way, but it certainly made the trees look very nice.

Regards Ray

Glad to hear that Ray I have one sitting next to a Japanese Maple that has no leaf burn, yet all the leaves of the elm have gone the cambium layer is still green so I am hoping. We have had 3 months now of temps above 30 and no rain. So seasol has been the order of the day.
Cheers Pup

AusBonsai