Can you dig elms in fall or spring ?

[davetree]

Can you dig up elm stumps in fall or is spring better ? Zone 4, Siberian elm. Thanks much.

 

[Poink88]

I only have experience with Cedar Elm but all that I collected early January (being in TX we have very mild winter and spring comes sooner) where the buds just started to swell survived. All those collected after bud break (late January here--just 2-3 weeks later) died. Note that the collection site was all rocks and I barely got any fine roots on all of them (both the early and late Jan batch).

I plan on hitting the same site before New Year. It will be bulldozed first quarter next year.

Hopefully this help you.

 

[rockm]

Spring is best. Fall collection in lower zones can be problematic if you don't have frost-free storage for the tree.

 

[davetree]

That's what I figured. I found a really nice old old Siberian elm clump growing along a fence. Could be 30-40 years old, maybe 50. Rugged bark trunks that are hard as a rock, tons of character there or I wouldn't even consider it. It has been pruned to a foot or so high constantly for many years. Now I just need permission to dig. Will post a pic soon. Thx.

 

[Zach Smith]

That's what I figured. I found a really nice old old Siberian elm clump growing along a fence. Could be 30-40 years old, maybe 50. Rugged bark trunks that are hard as a rock, tons of character there or I wouldn't even consider it. It has been pruned to a foot or so high constantly for many years. Now I just need permission to dig. Will post a pic soon. Thx.

You should be okay digging any time from January 1 until before budburst. Most elms don't like to be collected after they've put on their first round of growth in spring. Water-elms can be collected in either winter or the dead of summer, and I've had American elms respond pretty well. Winged elms are toast anytime after budburst. Cedar elms apparently are similar.

My rule of thumb in collecting is, if the weather isn't miserably hot or miserably cold and wet, you probably won't succeed. God has a great sense of humor in that regard.

Zach

 

[Poink88]

You should be okay digging any time from January 1 until before budburst. Most elms don't like to be collected after they've put on their first round of growth in spring. Water-elms can be collected in either winter or the dead of summer, and I've had American elms respond pretty well. Winged elms are toast anytime after budburst. Cedar elms apparently are similar.

Zach,

Cedar Elms are mutts (cross bred)...most if not all that I collected are winged.

I agree, regardless of season, make sure collection is done BEFORE bud burst.

 

[Zach Smith]

Zach,

Cedar Elms are mutts (cross bred)...most if not all that I collected are winged.

I agree, regardless of season, make sure collection is done BEFORE bud burst.

I've heard that about cedar elm, though I've only collected a few in my neck of the woods. I'm planning to get to Texas this winter to collected some decent specimens. Many years ago I worked on a few for a client in Dallas, but have never had anything significant in my own collection. I've seen some shots of yours you've posted; you'll end up with some nice bonsai when it's all said and done.

Zach