The golden elm can be found as a small tree in many front gardens. It's not just their beautiful flowers that make them so popular. The small deciduous tree is also particularly space-saving. Are you unsure whether regular trimming is still necessary? And if so, to what length should you shorten your golden elm. You can find the answers to your questions in this article.
When and how should you prune a golden elm?
Golden elms should be pruned in winter between November and March to maintain better growth or the desired shape. Wait at least three years after planting before pruning the tree, removing any root suckers or wilted leaves if necessary.
Time
You should cut the golden elm in the winter between November and March. On warm days, scents emerge from the open interfaces, which attract pests. The golden elm recovers from pruning in the spring. It is therefore advisable to plan cutting as late as possible. If you don't pick up the scissors until March (€14.00 on Amazon), new shoots will quickly form and make the golden elm appear attractive again.
Note the growth phase
If you have just planted your golden elm in the ground, you must not prune the tree. Cutting back now could hinder growth. Give the deciduous tree three years to get used to the new environment.
Radical or topiary?
Golden elms grow slowly, which is why no pruning is actually necessary. However, there are two reasons for the procedure:
- Thinning the crown for better growth
- radical pruning to inhibit growth and maintain shape
Tips for radical cuts
A strong, shaping pruning should definitely be done before the golden elm sprouts so as not to disturb its growth. You can safely keep the deciduous tree at a length of three meters.
How to proceed with thinning
When thinning out, you only remove annoying branches and twigs from the crown.
- choose an overcast, frost-free day for pruning
- remove any branches that are too close together
- To do this, first cut the branches growing into the crown and then work your way outwards
Remove runners
Sometimes the golden elm produces root runners that form shoots on the surface of the earth. If you want to avoid proliferation, you should cut it off as early as possible. In addition, it makes sense to dig up the entire root stolon so that you don't have to constantly remove new shoots.
Remove wilted leaves
Check your golden elm regularly for dried leaves and branches. In order to prevent the tree from dying, these must be separated.
