Best method for large Chinese elm cuttings?

[Michael P]

Some secondary and tertiary branches may need to be removed from an elm I've been developing for about 25 years. They are well ramified and I don't want to lose that work, but they are in very difficult places to air layer. The largest one is about 1/2" (1 cm) in diameter. Could these be successful cuttings and what would be the best way to do it, especially time of year?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I have done some elm cutting last winter, they were all about a centimeter thick at the least. Some going 1.5.
I had a strike rate of about 80% by dipping them in rooting hormone powder and jamming them in potting soil.

 

[Michael P]

Thanks! Did you protect them from freezing temperatures?

 

[Michael P]

I'm resurrecting this thread because I still have the same question. I want to take these branches off in late winter and I don't want to waste the ramification. Would cuttings taken at that time of year be viable? Any special techniques needed?

 

[Treelord]

https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/rooting-whole-japanese-maple-branches.66098/

 

[leatherback]

I have found elm branches hit and miss. Cuttings up to 2 inches diameter struck without a lot of thought, just planted deel (50%+ covered) and lightly protected against drying out in a coarse rooting medium.

 

[Michael P]

Thank you both! I was thinking of doing this in early spring at re potting time, at or before bud swell. Should I wait until the first flush of growth hardens?

As a side note, large root cuttings at that time of year have almost all been successful.

 

[ponderingsage]

I’ve dug up elms with basically no roots and most of them made it alright. I’d say you have a pretty good chance striking a whole branch.

 

[milehigh_7]

Some secondary and tertiary branches may need to be removed from an elm I've been developing for about 25 years. They are well ramified and I don't want to lose that work, but they are in very difficult places to air layer. The largest one is about 1/2" (1 cm) in diameter. Could these be successful cuttings and what would be the best way to do it, especially time of year?
Thanks in advance.

Elms can do hardwood cuttings with fair success. I have several I've done that way. Success depends on getting them in some type of medium before energy transfers to opening buds. I would say late enough that frost danger is MOSTLY past by a few weeks prior to bud swell. If you wait too long, you will have zero success.