Maiden69
Masterpiece
Coming along great, my yatsubusa root cuttings are at the same stage as yours on the first post... I think one of them could be working into something similar.
English Elm root cutting
- Thread starter BobbyLane
- Start date
pandacular
Masterpiece
I'm curious why you decided to separate the layer now rather than in autumn. Was it just due to an abundance of healthy roots?
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
Yes thats right, I did the same with a Beech layer yesterday. I think both will adjust fairly quickly, more so the Elm.
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
Temps will be cooling a bit here over the next few days, with less intense sun. I use the weather forecast at times when making these types of decisions
AJL
Chumono
Also here in Britain this week Ive just separated a Cork bark elm ,Mountain maple and Potentilla air layers which seem to be all happily establishing with no signs of wilting. All had strong new rooting so our current cooler weather after our recent heatwave is helping them to establish after separating from their mother plants . 
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
Did some major rootwork on this today. The roots had filled the pot and were growing through the drainage holes and into the balcony troughs.
I noticed a lot of lower branches died back last year, which I believe was mainly down to course growth in the apex, ive only just cut back a few branches today, since starting this tree. Couple of the trunks got thicker than the main one, so those were cut back.
Reduced the root ball considerably. Everything growing downwards and a few thick roots were removed, whats left is a pretty levelled out root base. There's some wood developing too
I noticed a lot of lower branches died back last year, which I believe was mainly down to course growth in the apex, ive only just cut back a few branches today, since starting this tree. Couple of the trunks got thicker than the main one, so those were cut back.
Reduced the root ball considerably. Everything growing downwards and a few thick roots were removed, whats left is a pretty levelled out root base. There's some wood developing too
Attachments
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
May still make further reductions in one or two trunks...
Should get a lot of backbudding.
I wont get as much trunk thickening in this pot, but if I keep the others in check, the main trunk should still put on a little girth with time. The rootbase should really begin to improve now though.
Should get a lot of backbudding.
I wont get as much trunk thickening in this pot, but if I keep the others in check, the main trunk should still put on a little girth with time. The rootbase should really begin to improve now though.
Last edited:
JeffS73
Chumono
Good to see you're still on with this project! The layer came out really well.
Jrmcmich
Chumono
Cool progression you have made on this.
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
The layering process did indeed turn out really well, got a nice new pad of roots to play about with. Roots would of went crazy if I didn't get a re pot done this season. The root mass had conformed to the shape of the plastic tub, so vigorous.
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
Thanks, looking back I think the two central trunks can come closer together.
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
So this has had somewhat of a reset. Ive cut back the trunks and introduced taper.
I like this for the front, the base will be better on this side
I like this for the front, the base will be better on this side
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
Update after the hard reset about 3 weeks ago. Ive just used a sharp scalpel to rub out numerous clusters of buds, buds in crotches etc. So whats left are keeper buds essentially.
There's a few well placed buds now at the base of the two thickest trunks, I may use these to grow out two more backround trunks, thinner for depth.
There's a few well placed buds now at the base of the two thickest trunks, I may use these to grow out two more backround trunks, thinner for depth.
Attachments
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
2 weeks on..
Im looking to develop 2 more trunks. One in foreground and one in the background.
There's 3 viable shoots to choose from
Elm just being an Elm, so vigorous
Im looking to develop 2 more trunks. One in foreground and one in the background.
There's 3 viable shoots to choose from
Elm just being an Elm, so vigorous
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
For a while now, ive been thinking the extreme lean in both side trunks is a little too much, and maybe a little contrived. So ive made some adjustments to train them more upright and I think there will eventually be more harmony/cohesion between all trunks now.
The left trunk is so strong and thick, im still getting the middle trunk to become thicker. The left trunk has been cut back hard, while there's a few longer shoots left on the middle trunk, coming from the base upwards.
There's a few strategic reductions all around the tree, im trying to get strength into the new emerging trunks, as much as 4 shoots around the base will become trunks in foreground and background.
You can just see in last image where ive pulled the two right trunks together, thus making a gap for a young trunk to emerge.
The left trunk is so strong and thick, im still getting the middle trunk to become thicker. The left trunk has been cut back hard, while there's a few longer shoots left on the middle trunk, coming from the base upwards.
There's a few strategic reductions all around the tree, im trying to get strength into the new emerging trunks, as much as 4 shoots around the base will become trunks in foreground and background.
You can just see in last image where ive pulled the two right trunks together, thus making a gap for a young trunk to emerge.
