名媛直播

Hi.

I got this chinese elm for free. Should I prune all the branches back to the trunk or make new fooliage pads with the existing branches?

If I remove all the branches, will the tree grow new leaves from the trunk then? What would you have done?

Thanks in advance.

Matte wrote: What would you have done?

I would let it grow a year, two years or longer, depends on how it develops. I might prune back branches on top and let low branches grow freely.
Depending on how it developed, I might cut off 2/3 or maybe even 3/4 off of the trunk, then start growing the next section.

Your plant currently has no potential. You have to create that potential.

Would have been nice to know your thoughts why you would let it grow, why you would prune the branches on top and let low branches grow and why you would cut off the trunk?

Have you noticed that all the branches are not growing directly out from the trunk? I dont think it looks good that the branches are growing out from small stumps or what i should call those branches. And thats why i'm asked, if I should cut all the branches back to the trunk. Then the branches will grow from the trunk and not from little stumps. Hope you know what I mean.

I would very lightly wire the branches so that the angle to the trunk is pleasing. Then let it shoot all spring. Once the foliage mass has doubled and the branches have set, trim the branches back to stubs. Then start building your tree?

Matte wrote: Would have been nice to know your thoughts why you would let it grow, why you would prune the branches on top and let low branches grow and why you would cut off the trunk?

Because you want to create a decent trunk first, that's tapered.

Have you noticed that all the branches are not growing directly out from the trunk?

Doesn't matter. You're starting from scratch and need to completely re-build that tree. Just let it grow, get it strong, vigorous - and take the time it needs to grow to do some studying. There is an article about growing trunks on this site, and Leatherback has an article about it (don't have it at hand, look it up using the search option. Maybe LB wants to post it once again)

Matte wrote: What would you have done?

www.bonsaiempire.com/forum/progressions/...ught-an-ulmus-bonsai

Thank you for your replies. It helped a lot. I just have one question.

I know you said the stubs doesn't matter. But I think they look ugly. Will the stubs "disappear" in the future when the new branches grow strong. Or should I cut back to the trunk in a couple of years. Hope you know what I mean.
Because I really think the tree looks ugly now with those stubs. But i don't know how it will look in the future when the tree has been growing strong. I attached some new pictures, were I highlighted the stubs. So should I cut all back with a concave, to get rid of those ugly stubs and start over and let it grow for a couple of years -or let the tree grow now, if you are sure the stubs wont be a problem in the future as they are now?

If it were mine I’d pick one or two branches on the first curve from the bottom to grow out and let it grow long and strong to help widen the trunk towards the bottom. I would however remove the branches towards the top because you don’t want a branch coming out from inside the curve of the trunk. It’s just not pleasing to the eye when a branch is growing from inside the bend of the trunk. Whatever you do, don’t worry. Chinese Elms grow like crazy and backbud a ton. You’ll have many options to let branches grow as the tree gains more vigor.

I’m not an expert but i can tell you my elm has grown tons in the last two years and the more i have trimmed it the more back budding I’ve gotten and improved ramification quite quickly. This is one species you can be bold with and if you don’t like it, it wont take too long to fix it with new branches.

As said, focus on making sure this is fully healthy. Then in summer you can trum the stumps back. I would go with 2 branches on each stub. One to become the extention and one as first side-branch (So you keep that shorter). Over time, th trim marks wil be overgrown. The first section of the stub will actually help provide taper in your branch.

Thank you for your replies. I go with either 名媛直播29 or leatherback's advice. Not sure if I want to let the trunk grow thicker with 名媛直播29 method. Which I also found described here: www.bonsaiempire.com/basics/styling/advanced/trunk

Or I should go with LB method. The branch you call "the extention", is that what people call sacrifice branch? Which should help thickening the trunk.
What does "trim marks" mean?

If I let the lowest branches overgrow. Will the trunk thickening just under the branch then, or the whole trunk under the branch?