How should I trim my Chinese Elm?

[Bonsai Babby]

My elm tree has most of its branches growing out of one knot about 3/4 up the trunk. I am not sure what to do. If I cut some away, won't there still be a big messed up knot there on the trunk?

 

[Bonsai Babby]

Hello again,

The more I look at my elm I am wondering if I should chop it off. I see reverse tapering at the knot with all the branches coming out. If I chop the trunk off below that, will the tree die?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

You are correct that if you allow all the branches to remain at the one spot in the trunk it will continue to swell...

However I would not prune it for that reason alone. Particularly I would not prune it that aggressively unless you were 100% confident that it was a healthy, strong tree that could take a big stress hit.

Instead I would remove EVERY branch but a medium-sized one growing out of the trunk at that location. Do NOT keep the strongest branch that appears to want to take over your apex Just one branch...

And I would remove that awkward top part without taper...

 

[Bonsai Babby]

You are correct that if you allow all the branches to remain at the one spot in the trunk it will continue to swell...

However I would not prune it for that reason alone. Particularly I would not prune it that aggressively unless you were 100% confident that it was a healthy, strong tree that could take a big stress hit.

Instead I would remove EVERY branch but a medium-sized one growing out of the trunk at that location. Do NOT keep the strongest branch that appears to want to take over your apex Just one branch...

And I would remove that awkward top part without taper...

View attachment 176541

You're amazing! You made my tree look way better! Ok, I am going to work on doing what you said. Thank you very much for the advice and taking the time to virtually sculpt the tree so I can see how it looks. That is a good idea, I will try to remember that when I want to cut branches in the future.

I will post pictures after I trim it.

 

[Bonsai Babby]

Ok, I just realized I can put thumbnails in my thread instead of full-sized photos. Sorry for all the huge pictures I've been posting, I know it makes the thread unpleasant to look at.

I trimmed and repotted the elm, here it is... I think I need more branches, will they grow on their own? I will appreciate any advice or criticisms. Thank you!

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Yes, branches will grow on their own. However you need to let your tree rest and regain strength now. In the future, if you don't like the branch structure, you can remove ALL the branches down to the trunk and it will resprout new branches. The important thing we had to do in the short term was remove branches that were too strong / all coming out of the trunk at the same spot, because we are (at this point) most interested in developing a clean trunkline.

 

[Gurudas]

To the experienced bonsaists, what about changing out the soil to somethingthat drains better? Would that be considered important at all, at this time?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

To the experienced bonsaists, what about changing out the soil to somethingthat drains better? Would that be considered important at all, at this time?

I think you may have missed the last post when she repotted the tree(?) Right now I would let it rest at least several months to regain its strength.

That's why it is always good to have more than one tree Too few trees and you will kill them with attention because you can't learn to leave them alone

 

[Gurudas]

I think you may have missed the last post when she repotted the tree(?) Right now I would let it rest at least several months to regain its strength.

That's why it is always good to have more than one tree Too few trees and you will kill them with attention because you can't learn to leave them alone

Got it.

That’s true about having more than 1 tree. My problem is not knowing when to stop adding trees, lol.

 

[0soyoung]

My problem is not knowing when to stop adding trees

Really?

I don't think so.
No, it isn't possible.
It really is not possible to know.

It means you must already have too many.
But 'too many' is an impossibility.
So 'knowing' when to stop adding trees is simply not possible.

 

[Gurudas]

Really?

I don't think so.
No, it isn't possible.
It really is not possible to know.

It means you must already have too many.
But 'too many' is an impossibility.
So 'knowing' when to stop adding trees is simply not possible.

Lol, agreed!

 

[Bonsai Babby]

Hello everyone, here is how my tree looks now. Should I do anything, or just let it keep growing?

A new little branch sprouted off one of the existing branches near the base. I do not think I want that to turn into a big branch, so should I cut it off?

 

[sorce]

For me....

You're not gonna overcome that bulge before regrowing this thing from a severe chop......

So I'd leave it all year, maybe even 4, then chop it back to a stub.

But only if the root spread is any good.

If not, layer it to get that started this year....
Then get to leaving it alone again for a while.

But it is entirely dependent on where you see yourself in 10 years.

Are you doing this for "self enjoyment"...
Or for to be a wicked badass Tree styler?.

And what is the likelihood that feeling will change?

Sorce

 

[BunjaeKorea]

For me....

You're not gonna overcome that bulge before regrowing this thing from a severe chop......

So I'd leave it all year, maybe even 4, then chop it back to a stub.

But only if the root spread is any good.

If not, layer it to get that started this year....
Then get to leaving it alone again for a while.

But it is entirely dependent on where you see yourself in 10 years.

Are you doing this for "self enjoyment"...
Or for to be a wicked badass Tree styler?.

And what is the likelihood that feeling will change?

Sorce

Like Sorce said..


Let it grow let it grow cant cut it back anymore let it grow let it grow.....

 

[Bonsai Nut]

It looks healthy, which is always a good thing.

It appears to me you did not reduce the pruning scar enough, and have left a stub. Can you take a closeup photo of the pruning site?

 

[jacob letoile]

Lots of good advice, that conflicts. Pick one person and stick with them. No matter what anyone says. Pick one and stick with them. I guarantee you will be more successful and learn more picking the not best advice and following it to the end than you will be picking which ever sounds best at the moment.

 

[M. Frary]

So I'd leave it all year, maybe even 4,

Same here. In a large bucket or the ground to fatten up to over an inch in diameter at least. Then cut it off about 2 inches above the soil.
As it stands now it's thin and straight and too tall for the diameter.

 

[sorce]

Lots of good advice, that conflicts

I truly love these...not so obvious obvious points!
If this were any other tree....
I would agree ...

But this is the kind of tree that deserves to have ALL the advice applied to it ....
At Once!

@Bonsai Babby I have thos thing about finding balance from the extremes....

In bonsai....

One extreme is dead trees.

The other extreme is trees that are allowed to grow so untouched, they go beyond the best point to be used for bonsai...

Somewhere in the middle of this is the balance we seek....

The fastest way to understand the balance in your garden.....

Is to kill a few on one end....
Let a few go to the other end...

And reign this in to YOUR balance.

Once you find your balance...

It will become more important to remain on a specific path with a tree.

Till then....

Experiment!

Sorce

 

[Bonsai Babby]

Same here. In a large bucket or the ground to fatten up to over an inch in diameter at least. Then cut it off about 2 inches above the soil.
As it stands now it's thin and straight and too tall for the diameter.

Hello, 7 years later I have learned more about bonsai and now I understand your post. I have decided to move my bonsai into a large growing bin and do a trunk chop about 2 inches above the soil, but I'll do this next spring. I just made a post about the same bonsai, it is bigger, but same dimensions, same problems. I did a lot of reading today, for a few hours, and know what I need to do now. The bonsai is healthy so it will handle the cut just fine next spring I think. I also have a few more in the pipeline, in growing bins so I can chop and shape them in bulk before moving them into bonsai pots.