Schmikah
Shohin
Just to be clear so @Mikecheck123 does not confuse my limited experience advice:
I was speaking in the perfect, long term, do it in stages, sense of what to do (as I see it, without time limitations).
How tall should I keep this collected Chinese elm?
- Thread starter Mikecheck123
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Just to be clear so @Mikecheck123 does not confuse my limited experience advice:
I was speaking in the perfect, long term, do it in stages, sense of what to do (as I see it, without time limitations).
Mikecheck123
Omono
Cool, thanks. Given my (in)experience, I think I'm going to err on the safe side and just chop it now.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Time frame for recovery of the main root system would be at least a year. Two if you want solid strong response from the tree. Another season to air layer...Three years for a mediocre air layer.
Tieball
Masterpiece
Just chop it off. Low. And start your new tree journey now.
Mikecheck123
Omono
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Schmikah
Shohin
*screams quietly* you sir, have more bravery than I.
Mikecheck123
Omono
No bravery is required when I'm the one doing the sawing.
Tieball
Masterpiece
Just a comment....just something I do. I always cut one side shorter than the other. The uneven growth is more appealing to me rather than a perfect V. But in the end, cut like the V you have, you’ll likely have uneven growth anyway and can then bite away some of the excess V. Carefully, I eliminate multiple branch buds growing from one spot....the multiples seem to just create a large obstacle growth...a big knob....that never smooths out.
Nice chop. Your decision is Mighty fine!
Nice chop. Your decision is Mighty fine!
Mikecheck123
Omono
Thank you for the help and kind words. I always marvel at the resilience and pliability of Chinese elms, but I've never had one this big! Keeping fingers crossed for greatness.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Nicely done! No courage, no bonsai.
Igor. T. Ljubek
Yamadori
Isn't it a bit too early for trunk chop? Even though you live in zone 10a i would rather wait till spring. I hope the tree will survive your "surgery" . Are you gonna keep it outside or inside (green house)?
. Are you gonna keep it outside or inside (green house)?
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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Boom !!!
I love it, no guts, no glory.
That is about where I would have cut. Nice.
Mikecheck123
Omono
Probably. But you gotta make do when Craigslist shopping.Isn't it a bit too early for trunk chop? Even though you live in zone 10a i would rather wait till spring. I hope the tree will survive your "surgery"
leatherback
The Treedeemer
Nah, the plant does not know it is winter 
M. Frary
Bonsai Godzilla
I would saw that club off low.
Probably as low as 3 to 4 inches inches from the soil line.
Should have been done at time of collection.
With elms cut to height before digging.
No need to worry about existing branches.
They sprout out of the cut.
Probably as low as 3 to 4 inches inches from the soil line.
Should have been done at time of collection.
With elms cut to height before digging.
No need to worry about existing branches.
They sprout out of the cut.
Mikecheck123
Omono
Mike Corazzi
Masterpiece
At times I get to thinking that one or two trees should actually be left in the ground where they grew up.
A yamagonawokawai if you will.
A yamagonawokawai if you will.
misfit11
Omono
Nice job making the difficult decision to chop this way down. The tree will be better for it in the long run. Much better than wasting years trying to make a convincing tree out of it only to chop it down then. No guys, no glory!
Mikecheck123
Omono
