Prunning Chinese Elms

Following this sketch of Kahaimraj's proposing solutions to another IBC member, I would like to ask : does this "regimen" of prunning applies to elms, too???

Khaimraj Seepersad wrote:

Khaimraj Seepersad wrote:... ... I would need to know, where you have these elms growing [ outdoors / indoors ], how cold, how long you had them, placement [ sun, bright window ] and if they are actively growing, have long shoots or fine needle type shoots.

The elm is growing outside (on my balkony) and it is the "S" (disliked....) type of elm. I have let this plant to grow wild because I would like it to obtain thicker branches and roots. Its shoots are over the "10 leaves" level. During spring and early summer I did start to pinch new shoots, but this was before I made up my mind of restyling this tree.

Khaimraj Seepersad wrote:... ... If they are in an unheated garage and dormant [ no leaves or very few ] then all you do for winter until they wake up, is carefully keep them ---- moist ----- no wet feet.
I would suggest if you could, carefully allow them to go dormant and you relax all winter.

In fact there is no sign yet of entering the "pre-dormant" (sic) period. Shall it go to sleep any time, I wonder! Not a single yellow leaf!

Thank you!

Alexandra,

if you find the elm to be ugly and not what you want, then you might have to look at airlayering in late spring or summer or whatever date those who live in a similar climate might suggest to you.
[ I have to do the same on one as well with regards to airlayering.]

If that is the case, it would probably best to just let it grow and hopefully it will slowly go dormant. You would be building up the internal strength by letting it grow.

Can you send an image ?

The others can step in, this is a bit too abstract, and the advice could end up doing more harm than good.
Khaimraj

I see....
So, it's better to post an image "before/after" the before being the image of the plant when it was given to me, so that everyone has a clear sight. I will do this next days.

Furthermore, in order to complete the story I should inform you that my plan is to find some kind of suitable rock and restyle the tree using the stone...., perhaps root over rock...
With this plan on my mind I have potted the elm last May into a narrow and deep "pot" (this is actually a piece of cut plastic bottle) in hope that the roots grow long.

Well, not the next days but... today (you can tell how anxious am I)

The elm as it was when a friend of mine gave it away to me last May


And the elm as it is now. Really wild, isn't it?


I doubt if anyone can tell what is going in there!
The chopped bottle is put into a clay pot for reasons of stability

Alexandra,

the first image is charming. So I drew the idea off of that.
Take time to find the correct rock or rocks to go with your tree.
Khaimraj

Thank you very much, Khaimraj!
I greatly appreciate your time!
The third image fits best to my taste. I hope this tree goes dormant at last, so that I can move to the next steps.
Next days I plan to visit a store near my job, they sell rocks for gardening landscapes and look in their collection. Perhaps I will be lucky.

It's pretty difficult -- and tediously time consuming -- to create a root-over-rock tree from a tree that is as large and old as yours. The tree's larger roots are simply too large to be fitted over the rock in any realistic way. Roots in this style are supposed to cling to the rock as if they'd grown over it in the course of many years. You don't just jam a rock between and under the tree.

This is not to say that you cannot use an attractive (key word!) rock as part of a landscape planting.

OK, then!
I do not mind at all! Landscape planting defeats root-over-rock! I feel confident that I will manage to soften and ease this ugly, hateful "S" provided that I will find The Attractive stone (for this I feel no confidence....)
Khaimraj also drew in landscape lines, didn't he?
I begine to feel so excited about my new plan

Alexandra,

instead of looking at your charming tree as an individual. Try looking at it as part of a landscape. Like a lone olive amidst the limestone outcrops and goats at play.

I saw it, from the image, as an old tree, with a long low branch, that shephards would shade under playing pipes, with a stream starting or passing just under the end of the long branch. Hence the long oval and you can add on an epoxied piece to hold a little water at one end.

Hopefully this exists around your farm or nearby.
Poetically / Whimsically yours.
Pan - oops I mean Khaimraj

Alexandra,

Root over rock is still possible.
How large is that tree?
Khaimraj

Do I hear a Pan's flute?
Well, height is now 21cm above the soil surface (those looooong shoots not included of course)

Alexandra,

at 21 cm [ 8 inches ] you should be able to do what you want to do. Keep the child alive and healthy, look around for a suitable rock. Any areas where you can look ? Other than the store ?
This tree is so small you could look for a say - 31 cm [ 12 inch ] rock to become the pot. Imagination.

Use the winter to search for an island rock for example. Look up scholar's rocks on the Internet or bonsai using a rock as a pot.
Enjoy the search.
The world is your oyster.
Hooves and pipes, dances away.
Khaimraj

I see what you mean, Khaimraj.
Looking for a suitable and beautiful stone is always in my mind, so whenever I am out of town somewhere in the countryside I do look around for some rock.
Next element to be added to my future penjing should be a dryad and a nymph, not the classic fisherman!
Let us hope that there will be reason to keep you posted....

My Nellie,,I am late posting but this is my opion...Youre tree in the first picture looks good to me,,,,S,,, Shape and all..I would go with Khaimraj,s sketch,wire the branches so they will make a full canapy put your rock in bury it so it does not look just layed on the soil...it will look landscaped this way and make a good bonsai..prune to shapeand it will bud back....my opion good luck john

Alexandra,

power of suggestion - play on imagination - create an image to contemplate - like an oil painting by Da Vinci or Tiziano.

No need for figures, how about a figure stone or small tree representing Daphne or a pool for Narcissus. Your's is a very rich culture. [ Your's is that a word ? ]

Poetry, not prose. Make them beg for more.
Playfully Khaimraj .

John, thank you for quoting your view and your opinion. I do appreciate this.

Khaimraj, I do have an image in mind yet it is a little obscure. Reason: lack of experience. But there are so many people in IBC trying to help for illuming the image, that I will make it!