Chinese Elm #2

michaelj said:
Given his location in California's Central Coast, I see no reason not to air layer. From mid-spring to mid-summer, I've been able to pull all (10+) of my elm air layers off within two months, and sometimes as fast as a month, with many roots, all surviving.
Click to expand...
M. Frary said:
Max, you're probably layering maples right? Chinese elms are quicker to put out roots than maples.
Click to expand...
Thanks guys; this makes me feel pretty good about the ground layer if nothing else. I've been considering methods, and wasn't sure I wanted to go full ring-bark, since "failure is always an option." Knowing that they root so vigorously definitely keeps that option on the table.
 
Ok, here is the second black-towel™ mockup.
image.jpg
I ditched the top conservatively, leaving that highest branch just to keep things flowing until I get some buds to choose a new lead from in that upper section. I wish that branch was angled up just a bit more . . . it would have been perfect.

There are a couple of low branches to the left and the back. My thinking is to leave them for now in order to feed the upcoming layer, and perhaps as sacrifices going forward.
 
I feel like I should probably get some wire on that first branch before it gets too stiff to bend down. Any reason not to do it now?
 
Ok, so nearly a year after starting this thread, I finally got that ground layer started!
As you can see, it's leafing out, and I'm still letting the leader run:
image.jpeg image.jpeg

Here are some views of just how badly this tree needs a ground layer!
image.jpeg

So it begins:
image.jpeg

It's always a little tough to get started slicing away, but once I get going . . .
 
Last edited:
I continued scraping away after that last photo and then wiped the cut with alcohol. I also left it sitting out, exposed to the air, for the rest of the day and until the next morning:
image.jpeg
I put my good ol' superstition wire on there, dusted with some (probably unnecessary) rooting hormone, and set up a pot rim to hold media around the cut. I also used some weed-stop fabric at the bottom to try and keep the new roots from becoming too entangled in the old ones:
image.jpeg
 
Nice.....however......

I'm worried about that top wire being so close to where the roots wanna come out.
Like you might get one going up, one going down?

?:confused:?

Sorce
 
sorce said:
Nice.....however......

I'm worried about that top wire being so close to where the roots wanna come out.
Like you might get one going up, one going down?

?:confused:?

Sorce
Click to expand...
Nah, I'm not worried about it - only one way to find out though. I'll dutifully report back if there is an issue ;)
 
Very cool elm!Hope that layer works good.Is there a way you can check the roots progress.May layer pretty quickly with that long leader on there.
 
cmeg1 said:
Very cool elm!Hope that layer works good.Is there a way you can check the roots progress.May layer pretty quickly with that long leader on there.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I certainly hope it's quick, but I don't want to disturb anything by constantly digging around. I'll probably just leave it alone for at least a couple of months before I worry abut checking.
 
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