field grown Zelkova

[defra]

yesterday i got this zelkova in the mail!
its field grown by someone in belgium as pre bonsai.
its been dug up every two years to work the roots and pruned back every year at least once, i dont know for how long i will ask the seller later but i forgot to do so.



I know its december but the tree was in burlap and the roots covered in a thick mucky clay soil so i decided to do the potting up now and get it out of the clay soil i will keep it frost free trough the winter till spring and expect it to be alright.

The base before repotting:



Prepared a Terracota trainingspot i had lying around fits perfectly, added a layer of coarse pumice:




Roots washed off after removing most of the soil with a chopstick and put in the pot
The roots are not bad but also need improvement, i cut a couple thick downward growing ones and one thick crossing root, rest i left as they are some should still go but if the tree grows well next season and is healthy i can work on improving the nebari with future repots it will take some years anyway to make something out of this.

 

[defra]

Potted up and cleaned out the dead stubs and twigs i will leave it as it is for now and focus on just getting it growing in spring!
pictures from four sides of the result:

 

[BobbyLane]

Nice! I would of done the same thing, wouldnt have been any good sitting in that mud over winter.

 

[Tieball]

It was good to see the muddy soil changed to a much better substrate. Lots of work to do on the tree and I’m sure you are ready for the challenge.

 

[Calnicky]

Pretty Zelkova. Can't wait to see it in leaf. There's lots of potential there to design from. Keep reporting back!

 

[defra]

It was good to see the muddy soil changed to a much better substrate. Lots of work to do on the tree and I’m sure you are ready for the challenge.

Pretty Zelkova. Can't wait to see it in leaf. There's lots of potential there to design from. Keep reporting back!

Nice! I would of done the same thing, wouldnt have been any good sitting in that mud over winter.

Yeah as seccond option i could have left it and planted it in the ground till spring. But i have a brick shed were i can put trees and with the help of a Electric heater with thermostat that will keep it frost free

I realy want to try a broom style tree and i think zelkova is one of the best species for that but Just chopping it down is a waste of the upper part so think i will airlayer some parts first and then after that chop it down for starting a broom style tree but ill look at it in the mean time considering all the options

 

[BobbyLane]

Yes I think there's another tree up top, i'd be tempted to layer right underneath where the two branches flare out from each other in the first image. They should help to drag the base out and give you a chunky piece. Then build a broom from whats left underneath.

This one I no longer have, but seller says it came from an air layer. So if you're lucky you should get a nice set of roots, Zelkova layer just as good as Elms, you should get more roots than you need

 

[defra]

Yes I think there's another tree up top, i'd be tempted to layer right underneath where the two branches flare out from each other in the first image. They should help to drag the base out and give you a chunky piece. Then build a broom from whats left underneath.

This one I no longer have, but seller says it came from an air layer. So if you're lucky you should get a nice set of roots, Zelkova layer just as good as Elms, you should get more roots than you need
View attachment 578300View attachment 578301

Yes i have seen multiple examples of airlayered parts of zelkova so im sure ill get it to root.

In red circle layer off and have a start for a shohin Size clump style tree.
Then either at one of the green lines layer off the rest and either use that for a tree or use to grow as donor tree for future airlayers and then the bottom part as broom.
So for the price of 95€ three/four possible projects !