Bonsai plants give your garden a Far Eastern flair and are also space-saving and easy to care for. How about an elm tree in the shape of a bonsai, for example? The deciduous tree is one of the most common plant species that are cultivated in the Asian container form. With a little knowledge, you can grow a beautiful bonsai tree.
How do I prune a bonsai elm correctly?
When cutting a bonsai elm, you should first do the topiary in spring. Allow young shoots to grow to 6-8 leaves and then cut them back to two leaves. Remove thicker branches and wire them in the fall after further pruning.
The elm is ideal for keeping bonsai
A bonsai requires regular topiary. In contrast to other deciduous trees, the elm tolerates this very well. It sprouts again after a short time, thickens quickly and has dense branching. The Chinese elm in particular is often used for growing bonsai. No wonder, after all, the plant comes from Asia, the home of the art of bonsai. The most common forms are
- the freely upright form
- and the strictly upright shape
After purchase
You can get elms not only at the tree nursery, but also for little money at discount stores. However, in this case the bale is surrounded by a thick layer of clay. Although this proves to be very useful for transport, if the clay dries, your elm tree will die. Therefore, remove the lumps of clay from the ball immediately after purchasing it and place the deciduous tree in a species-appropriate substrate.
The point in time
The elm tree grows about 15 cm per month in summer, which is why pruning may be necessary up to three times a year to maintain its shape. Generally suitable times are:
- for topiary: in spring
- for removing thick branches: in autumn
- for wiring: in spring after topiary
The technology
You should always use sharp tools (€123.00 on Amazon) for both shaping and pruning to keep the wounds as small as possible.
The pruning
- grow young shoots to 6-8 leaves
- then cut back to two leaves
The Wiring
You can either wire or stretch an elm tree. The latter is particularly recommended for young, tender branches that are still mobile and flexible.
Don't be afraid of mistakes
Due to the rapid growth, irregularities can be evened out in a short time with a topiary.
