26 Year Old Chinese Elm (Ulmus Parvifolia) no Budding

[Redskins86]

Well then I definitely would like it to come back soon. A year would feel like forever. If it didn't bud at all summer and fall you would still leave it outside?

 

[sorce]

Well then I definitely would like it to come back soon. A year would feel like forever. If it didn't bud at all summer and fall you would still leave it outside?

I am not so patient, not do I have the space.....

But in your case....I would....

Sorce

 

[Vance Wood]

This is one of the reasons I do not grow them any longer. About ten maybe 15 years ago I had a first rate Zelkova that I had developed into a pretty decent broom. Then one Spring it just sat there and sat there and sat there some more and then it died. Almost everyone I knew that had Chinese Elms or Ulmus species did the exact same thing and lost them that same year. Do I know what happened? Nope and it is not often talked about because no one knows.

 

[sorce]

Odd....

I know why most of mine die....

But I don't know why any live!

Sorce

 

[Redskins86]

Looking at the bark now it even looks bad compared to fall pics. It was dark brown now looks like a gray/silver and where it peeled is like light brown. Will wait for awhile see if turns for the better.

 

[RickMartin]

My oak (not a elm mind you) is just now starting to wake up and leaf out and it been very warm here for a couple months so i would give it the growing season and see what happens.

Rick

 

[Vance Wood]

I don't know for sure but I suspect a lot of this is due to the hours of daylight, and time of day as a trigger.

 

[RickMartin]

That very well could be, but i wouldnt toss it in the burn pile yet..

Rick

 

[Vance Wood]

I never toss till things start to peel and drop off.

 

[ml_work]

I believe it was kept outside never know for sure.

Brussels keep the Chinese Elms inside the "Cold House", no heat or climate control but they are inside. Being a specimen it may have been in the smaller cold house, which may have heat.

 

[MattE]

i like the look of that!

 

[Redskins86]

Interesting. Mine didn't lose all its leaves until almost late February. My biggest concern is the buds
Fall off easily don't all look red and one of the big surface roots at the end feels soft. It might have been that way for awhile and know just noticing it on the root as it is pretty large and far from the tree that could be normal.... Not sure because never had a tree with surface root that long or big.

 

[Redskins86]

Interesting. Mine didn't lose all its leaves until almost late February. My biggest concern is the buds
Fall off easily don't all look red and one of the big surface roots at the end feels soft. It might have been that way for awhile and know just noticing it on the root as it is pretty large and far from the tree that could be normal.... Not sure because never had a tree with surface root that long or big.

 

[AaronThomas]

surface roots at the end feels soft

Eek..... that doesn't sound good.

 

[Redskins86]

Nope...

 

[AaronThomas]

I hope it kicks back for you... killer elm!
For what its worth... My elms have done some crazy stuff this year due to crappy soil. One defoliated twice in 3 months.... now its back in leaf.
Time will tell.

 

[Redskins86]

Ya be a shame for 25 year old to die in one winter. If it pulls through don't think I will keep it out all winter next year. If I had a garage I'd do that. Weather here has been all over in MD. One second it's 75 then last two weeks about 48 at night and 60s and cloudy last two weeks. Damn redwood came out like a beast same with the maple. Even junipers aren't happy with the weather we been getting. Half the flowers we got died because of no sun and to much rain. Had to put a plastic bag around the elms pot today cause we are calling for more and more rain.

 

[Redskins86]

Of course when I got the elm in fall it was pretty much pot bound and old soil but was told fall is not the time you want to be repotting a new tree.

 

[lordy]

I've already defoliated two of my C. Elms and both are budding back. Three weeks is all it takes to grow new leaves. It sounds like yours got too wet and stayed that way in nursery soil, which is not uncommon for Brussel's. If there is no sign of life I would be tempted to do an emergency repot to free draining (pumice) substrate and see what happens. I would not bother watering more than initially after repot, and remove any rotten roots. I'm also in central MD and my stuff is going berserk even with the epic rain this spring. This pic is mid-April (about a month after removal from outdoor overwintering).

 

[Redskins86]

Thanks for that advice will try this asap.