Japanese Elm looks horrible. Advice please...

[Bonsai Babby]

Hello, I have this elm that I got 10+ years ago and I never really liked how it looks. There is a skinny bare trunk and a giant ball/knot at the top where all the branches come out. Can I do a trunk chop? I've been reading about it and it makes me nervous. It won't kill the tree? How would I do it, just cut the whole top off a few inches from the soil? Here are some photos... thank you.

https://imgur.com/duj09qr

https://imgur.com/kw6cQiG

https://imgur.com/Z4Z23LU

https://imgur.com/jvgRVNe

 

[rockm]

You keeping this inside?

 

[Bonsai Babby]

You keeping this inside?

Hello, no it is in full sun, but I spent several hours reading since I made this post. I decided I need to move it to a big growing bin and do a trunk chop. The top is never going to look normal, it is a giant ball.

Here is a post from 7 years ago about the same tree. I kept it in that little pot this whole time. https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/how-should-i-trim-my-chinese-elm.31994/

 

[bwaynef]

You've either got a grow-out project on your hands, or you need to start studying up on how to make a broom. I think that's where this trunk would shine.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Just be aware that right now your tree is going into fall dormancy (hence the fall colors). Even in SoCal, elms will go into a dormant period until about mid-Feb. I wouldn't recommend doing anything major until the spring.

 

[brentwood]

What's it been growing in for those 10 years? Maybe up pot it and work on that trunk a while, maybe put in the ground. Just a thought, some girth would do it a lot of good.
B

 

[Bonsai Babby]

Just be aware that right now your tree is going into fall dormancy (hence the fall colors). Even in SoCal, elms will go into a dormant period until about mid-Feb. I wouldn't recommend doing anything major until the spring.

Thank you, I think I have a game plan now. I'm gonna put it in a large growing pot and do the trunk chop in March or when it starts showing little buds.

Generally with an Elm (I think it is Japanese but it might be Chinese, I don't remember and it was a gift) can I do one tapering chop a year or should I wait 2 years, or does it just depend on how the plant looks?

Edit: Mine is a Japanese Elm or Zelkova Serrata, I looked up the leaves.

 

[Shibui]

I looked at the pictures and I'm very confident you have a Chinese elm - Ulmus parvifolia. Leaves, bark colour and growth habit are all consistent with Chinese elm.

What is one tapering chop?
With Chinese elm I'd usually just chop at the point I want new branches to start. You may get 1 or 2 shoots from the trunk but most new buds will form from the cambium layer around the top of the cut. As those develop you'll need to remove some to encourage the best ones and avoid a repeat of the ball/knot you currently have.
I agree that chop in Spring would be good. In the meantime, feed and water well to build up strength so you'll get a better response to the chop. It currently doesn't look real healthy so plenty of TLC until dormancy.

 

[rockm]

Thank you, I think I have a game plan now. I'm gonna put it in a large growing pot and do the trunk chop in March or when it starts showing little buds.

Generally with an Elm (I think it is Japanese but it might be Chinese, I don't remember and it was a gift) can I do one tapering chop a year or should I wait 2 years, or does it just depend on how the plant looks?

Edit: Mine is a Japanese Elm or Zelkova Serrata, I looked up the leaves.

It’s a Chinese elm. Japanese zelkova is not very common as starter material. Zelkova name is used to dodge import restrictions