collected elm stump

As promised the hollow elm stump collected over the weekend. I’ve dug me bunker and am wearing a hard hat so fire away guys! Personally I think this stump offers a lot of potential. I’m just trying to work out which of the two leaders to remove, any ideas Will? If you need more pics to decide I shall provide!

Just me, personally, looking at the 1st photo, I would remove the back trunk and then push to get some new growth before making additional decisions on where to go next.

Cheers Jay!

fuzzy
great stump loads of potential!!!!!!!!!!!!
i would cut the back leader off and cut the next one down to the small shoot coming out at an angle and let it grow away for a year
great material have fun
andy

Time to come out of your fox hole Russ I really like the look of this but I need to see more angles. The deadwood at the base might have to go, as it looks soft. Bring it on

[quote="will baddeley"]Time to come out of your fox hole Russ I really like the look of this but I need to see more angles. The deadwood at the base might have to go, as it looks soft. Bring it on [/quote

I agree. I've dug many a similar stump. They usually are short lived -- either because of punky wood, termites, or just plain ill health.

There is a reason they became diseased-looking stumps.

Thank you Andy, Will. Jim. I agree about the rear leader removal, nice to have it confirmed. You’re quite right about the dead wood sticking out being soft. I was in two minds whether to try preserving it or just let it rot away over the years though my main priority is to try to gain vigour and heath in the tree over the coming year. The two leaders showed nice healthy looking buds and wood at the tips. The roots also show no visible disease. I’ll try and get some more shots for you to see when it stops raining.

Will, Jim Any special tips on ensuring it‘s recovery as I‘d hate to lose this one?
Many thanks

If I was a gambling man, I would put money on this Elm surviving. I have collected countless Elms over the years and even in my novice collecting days, have'nt lost one! Jim sounds worried about the rot at the base, I have no concerns as elm wood is'nt long lasting in an out door environment, without treatment that is. Any soft wood should be removed though. Crumble what you can with your fingers, wire brush the rest and treat with a fungicide and insecticide. One application of each will do. Get out in the rain and take some more shots, you big sissy

Thanks Will much appreciated and as for being a sissy I’m not the one wearing a dress!
Regards Erica xxx

I agree with removing the back stump. The front one has more movement. It'd be nice to try and save as much of the deadwood as you can, Eric. It'll make a great feature.

BTW, my wife thinks Will's avatar looks more like Ozzy Osborne than Frank Gallagher. SHAAAROOOON!

Cheers Harleyrider,
I agree that losing the dead wood would be a shame as it does add to the trees character but it is very fragile so I’ll wait till spring and consider applying wood hardener.

I think we’re all agreed then, the rear shall go!
Thanks for the input.

Enrique

I did'nt want to give my opinion until I'd seen more picture angles but as none have turned up( wet, cold and now dark and far to scary ), I'll give my two pennies worth. I think both leaders need to come off. Neither is interesting in comparison with the trunk. Eliminate the back one as suggested and reduce the front one by half before growth starts, to promote back budding on the front leader.

Fuzzy wrote:Cheers Harleyrider,
I agree that losing the dead wood would be a shame as it does add to the trees character but it is very fragile so I’ll wait till spring and consider applying wood hardener.

I think we’re all agreed then, the rear shall go!
Thanks for the input.

Enrique

The application of wood hardener on existing rotten wood, is a waste of time. I only apply wood hardener to strong wood. If for instance, I carve some green wood(wet), I leave out the detail at this point because the wood is fluffy. Let the wood season for at least a couple of months, then detail carve. After this I then apply the hardener. The time between initial carve and finished carve is important study time for how to finish the design.

Enrique,
I see a pretty nice possibility for a little semi cascade in one of those photos Lots of character in the hollow. You really should scrape out the rotted wood until you hit harder less "fluffy" wood. Char it and wire brush it when you're done. This will help ensure it wont continue to rot.
One thing to note: If you have a hollow, make sure water can escape or you'll have more "fluffy wood" down the road.

Pretty nice little stump though. Will make a great tree quickly if you are decisive in getting rid of those stumps as Will suggested and build branches using the character of the trunk.

Will I heard they had something to cure wood fluff now

Steady on Neil, Steady on!!!!

fuzzy
if it was mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!then let it grow for a year
my first try changing pictures

one of my stumps
kinda looks familiar

Andy,
What type of elm is this?

neil
it is a collected siberian elm, see here

https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/bonsai-f1/collected-siberian-elm-t1131.htm

andy

Andy,
Thats a chunk of wood man! Have you had much luck with siberian elm? I've not tried them...but they've got a bad wrap for bonsai.

Cant wait to see what you do with this stump.

Neil

thanks neil
i have had loads of luck with these tress..and very little trouble with them
i cant wait for spring to get this tree growing..not sure if i will plant it in the ground to really thicken the new leader or keep it potted
first time out of the ground took two of us a couple of hours and a lot of sweat
heres some more garden grown,cuttings, and layers
andy



layers and cuttings



collected

Thanks Andy. Lots of great projects in the works there!

Nice work.

I see more of a taper on the forward leader . I would agree to removing the back one. Looks like it will make a decent project.