Shaunny

Hi, I'm new to this forum thing! But I need a little help...

I have a Chinese elm and from what I can see its all a bit too crowded and can't really see what's going on. Is it possible to defoliate a Chinese elm so I can see what the branch structure is like and sort thing out from there? I know the tree is about 8 years old which I aquired from a bonsai nursery. There are a few areas at the apex where branches cross over etc. what I need to know is can I and when? It's currently in doors as it was brought as an indoor bonsai but is it possible to have it out side?

Thanks Shaun

Mattbonsai

Hi Shaun.

I see your location says Wiltshire, I'm assuming thats Wiltshire UK? Anyways, you should be able to keep the tree outdoors all year round, including the winter, and if you do so it will be deciduous and should loose its leaves in the winter.

Obviously once its dropped its leaves you can then trim through the canopy thinning it out and giving it a jolly good trim. In the spring when it leafs out it will back bud all over where it was pruned and grow lovely.

If It were mine, I would move it into an unheated greenhouse and with the mild november we're having at the moment, it should go into dormancy naturally, once it has dropped all its leaves put it under the greenhouse bench with a bit of polythene over the front to protect it a bit from its first real winter, moving it into a unheated garage if it looks like we're going to get -16.c again.

Hope this helps

Cheers

-Matt-

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Shaunny

Thank you for the quick response....

The only thing with that is i do not have the facilities to do any of what you suggested (greenhouse or garage) Is it not possible to just defoliate it as it normally would this time of year then prepare for it to go out in the spring time?

Shaunny

Matt the answer to your question was wiltshire UK sorry lol

Mattbonsai

Hey Shaun, sorry I had forgotten about this post .

The best option I think for you then, would be to wait until the end of winter when the days are getting longer but before the tree starts growing again and then defoliate it. I would wait until I saw some bud swell, and cut off all the leaves leaving the petioles (leaf stalks) attached (these will drop off on their own).

Then you can move the tree outside when the risk of frost has passed.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

-Matt-

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