AusBonsai

Hi mates!!!!

Just thought I'd post a picture of one of my project Chinese Corkbark Elms. It was field grown for 7 years, cut back to 15 inches or so and then left to grow freely for another 2 years. I removed it from the field March of 2010 (first pic) and it has just leafed out for another year of canopy development. A few more years and it should be pretty goood.

Randy

Nice looking tree Randy, but I have to say I think you should remove that big branch on the left which will only get thicker in the future. Short term pain for long term gain.
Craigw

Very nice Cork bark Randy , what's your reason for keeping the big left branch? future changes maybe? thanks for sharing

craigw60 wrote:Nice looking tree Randy, but I have to say I think you should remove that big branch on the left which will only get thicker in the future. Short term pain for long term gain.
Craigw

Hi Randy,

This could become a very nice bonsai but I have to agree with Craig. Remove the big branch on the left now. It will leave a big cap now but it won't take long before you have a nice canopy in place. The scar will heal over reasonable quick. Just keep feeding the lots and keep it growing nicely.

Cheers,

Chris Sirre

Another possibility is to chop the trunk above that large left branch/trunk, and lean the tree over to the right, depending on what the roots let you do. You could layer the right trunk off as a new tree.

Or you could layer the trunk just under where they separate, for a twin trunk.

It looks fine as it is, but when the leaves drop, the competing branch/trunks will feel like they conflict.

Very fine trunk taper, no matter which trunk you choose. Good luck!

Gavin

GavinG wrote:Another possibility is to chop the trunk above that large left branch/trunk, and lean the tree over to the right, depending on what the roots let you do. You could layer the right trunk off as a new tree.

That is not a bad option either,Gavin.

Chris

Hi mates,

I have considered removal of that fat upward branch. The removal of that branch causes some technical issues on it's replacment with new branches as that side of the tree is bare of growth. If I were to do it, I would have 2 choices, 1; graft new branches on, or 2; remove all of the existing branches taking the tree back to a bare stump. Neither of these are nice options and requires another 5 or more years of development which at my age I'm not sure I have. I do like it just the way that it is when it is in leaf and most likely will leave it and let the future owners make the final decision.

Here is another one from the same field grown group that I'm working on that has a better future and gets more of my attention.

Randy

That one is a real beauty Randy, Are you going to put it in a pot this year ?. Corky elms are such great trees and very forgiving, I field grow lots of them here all propagated from root cuttings.
Craigw

craigw60 wrote:That one is a real beauty Randy, Are you going to put it in a pot this year ?. Corky elms are such great trees and very forgiving, I field grow lots of them here all propagated from root cuttings.
Craigw

Craig,

No, that one is not going to get a nice container for a few more years yet. It sill has 3 or 4 years more of training and canopy growth to really warrent it. The lower branches need to be fixed and the others need to fill out some. I must say however, I'm actively looking for something nice for it. Good to hear that others are field growing this stuff. It's really the only way to get larger material within a reasnoable timeframe.

ta ta for now bud!
Randy

Just thought I'd post an update picture from this afternoon. Gonna need a pot soooooooon!

Randy

Hi Randy, Looks good enough to go into a pot to me
Craigw