Air layering Corkbark Elm suggestions.

[Clicio]

This Corkbark Elm is too tall and straight, so I have been wondering what to do.
1- chop it down.
2 - air layer it.
3 - making it a weeping elm.

My preference is to air layer it (on the green line), and after cutting the layer chop it down to the first branchlet (blue line).
But...
Suggestions are welcome!

The tree, bare - it's Winter here.


Air layer first option:


Horrible draft of a possible willow:


Please, I am all ears!

 

[BrianBay9]

I would air layer the top, but a few inches higher than you indicate. And chop where you indicate below. Looks like you've got two trees there worth developing.

 

[Kanorin]

I think your air-layer and chop plan looks solid. The blue line you drew is right about where it starts losing taper, so seems like a good spot to me too. I would think about eventually replanting the bottom half at some kind of angle to eliminate the horizontal on the bend. Nice bark!

 

[AJL]

I would discount the willow tree idea .Either other option should be viable and I think you could also try an air layer for a third potential Mame above the green line.

 

[Clicio]

I would discount the willow tree idea .Either other option should be viable and I think you could also try an air layer for a third potential Mame above the green line.

Wow!
Nice idea!

 

[BonsaiDTLA]

I agree with those that said you can make two trees out of this one.
These air-layer easily too, so you should be golden
Go a bit higher than the green line and then you'll have something real nice.

 

[Clicio]

I would think about eventually replanting the bottom half at some kind of angle to eliminate the horizontal on the bend. Nice bark!

Thanks for the suggestion , it will make a more interesting tree. I will tilt it,

 

[jszg]

My unexpert opinion is that I would air layer a tad bit higher, such that the branch in the left is near the root base. I would figure that would either make a good sacrifice for a nice broad root flair, or could be grown out to a daughter trunk.

I like the sharp curve on the bottom half. Wild trees do grow like that sometimes!

 

[trigo]

I would not do an airlayer on this tree, the layered part will be just a straight little trunk, i don't think it's worth the time. And about the styling of the base tree, in my opinion, going for either of those 2 little lower right branches would be better, as you would futher go into asymmetry, if you go with the lower left branch you will get into the S shape, not a bad choice, just overused i think.

 

[leatherback]

At first I was, wait, no!
But then I looked a bit more and must now agree with the low chop being a solid option.

Did you know these can also root as cuttings?

 

[Maiden69]

I agree with layering higher. You could have a nice shohin with that top portion of the tree. Also, I would layer at an angle and not straight in order to have a wider "nebari" from the start. Then chop at your blue line.

 

[Clicio]

At first I was, wait, no!
But then I looked a bit more and must now agree with the low chop being a solid option.

Did you know these can also root as cuttings?

Nice video, Jelle!
Yes, I could take this somewhat easier route, and try a cutting from the top part of this Elm, instead of air layering it.
I'll think it over, thanks!

 

[Blksmth88]

Id try for 3 trees. id make 2 from the bends. and id keep the tall upright section as 1 and make it a broom style. Or you could make it 4, depending how you adjust the space between the blue lines. But! at a minimum you will have the base trunk to make a tree from then the top section you could split into 2 or have a tall literati or broom . Ill be interested to see what you come up with, but for me id consider something like this if it wont make the straight sections too hard to manage in the future.

 

[Blksmth88]

Also my top blue line wasnt exactly where id make my cut. It was just to represent splitting the top section into 2 parts. i dont think id make 2 equal height trees if i were cutting the top section.

 

[leatherback]

I'll think it over, thanks!

cuttings are of course less reliable than airlayering, but it puts you a growing season ahead in terms of developing the lower part.

 

[Gabler]

I would not do an airlayer on this tree, the layered part will be just a straight little trunk, i don't think it's worth the time. And about the styling of the base tree, in my opinion, going for either of those 2 little lower right branches would be better, as you would futher go into asymmetry, if you go with the lower left branch you will get into the S shape, not a bad choice, just overused i think.

If you really want to avoid overused forms, go with a straight trunk.

There's a lot of hate for straight trunks. Why does every trunk need to bend and contort? What's wrong with brooms and formal upright trees? Embrace the straightness. Make something unique and interesting.

 

[Tieball]

My thought process is somewhat simplified with one air layer, just eliminate the middle angle and keep the lowest trunk section with all of the hanging roots to develop another tree. I like the gentle curve, a slight curve, with the upper straight section along with the right side dominant branching. The lower trunk section left in the soil is a natural for an ancient trunk that could have branches developing for growing a taller tree or left old and short with a carved Uro-hollow hole right after a new branch begins to create a healing edge. So two trees in the end.

 

[Tieball]

Once selected branches are grown out on that top section trunk-tree, if my tree, I’d look to create it something like this photo. I'd use that blunt top to tell a story rather than the typically expected path of growing a single apex branch at the top to create a single trunk taper…and make the chop invisible, which to me can be quite unexciting and featureless. I’m building an Oak to something like this….using the chopped top different than expected. And, when I look around me, deciduous trees have faults and deadwood in many different was which makes each tree a natural work of art.

 

[leatherback]

Maybe this is interesting. Comes out on the 22nd..

 

[Clicio]

Maybe this is interesting. Comes out on the 22nd..

View attachment 499061

Humm.. couldn't find a link... could you please help me?