Ground grown chinese elm

[Dorky_gearhead]

I have a chinese elm that's screwed to a piece of plywood and I was wondering if I could lift the tree and trim the roots every year? Or would it be best to give it 2 years?

 

[akhater]

Since it's a Chinese elm you can do it every year without risk. If you feel that the tree is sulking then give it a break but I doubt it will skip a beat

 

[garywood]

I have a chinese elm that's screwed to a piece of plywood and I was wondering if I could lift the tree and trim the roots every year? Or would it be best to give it 2 years?

Dork, objective answers to subjective questions are tough ;-) You --can-- trim the roots yearly. --BUT-- do you need to. Generally, if you trim roots the shoots won't be vigorous and vice versa. Prioritize shoots or roots and alternate the pruning to maximize one or the other.

 

[Shibui]

Chinese elm generally only grow a few thick roots from the trunk. Pruning those will usually stimulate more roots to give far better nebari. I don't trim roots of elms every year but a check after year 1 is definitely worth while.