Read interesting information about growth in the commented hanging elm profile here. You can find out how much you can buy a hanging elm here. Planting and care tips for Ulmus glabra 'Pendula' worth reading.
What is a weeping elm and how do you care for it?
The hanging elm (Ulmus glabra 'Pendula') is a deciduous deciduous tree with an umbrella-shaped crown and drooping branches. It reaches a height of 3-5 m and is hardy. Easy to care for and bee-friendly, it is suitable as a decorative, long-lasting house tree.
Profile
- Scientific name: Ulmus glabra pendula
- Cultivar of the species: Wych elm (Ulmus glabra)
- Genus: Elms (Ulmus)
- Synonyms: weeping elm, broadleaf elm, umbrella elm
- Occurrence: Europe, Asia, North America
- Growth type: deciduous deciduous tree
- Growth habit: umbrella-shaped, hanging
- Growth height: 3 m to 5 m
- Leaf: asymmetrical-ovoid, serrated
- Flower: umbellate
- Fruit: winged nut
- Winter hardiness: hardy
Growth
The hanging elm is a decorative small tree whose umbrella-shaped crown and hanging branches form a cozy spot. In the nursery, the graft is grafted onto the standard trunk of a local mountain elm (Ulmus glabra). The result is a house tree suitable for the garden in a picturesque mourning shape. These key growth data shape the appearance, which is worth seeing:
- Growth type: deciduous deciduous tree in mourning form or pendula form.
- Growth habit: single-stemmed, broad umbrella-shaped crown, trailing side branches.
- Growth height: 3 m to 5 m
- Growth width: 6 m to 8 m
- Roots: Deep roots with runners.
- Gardenically interesting properties: easy to care for, hardy, stable, bee-friendly, tolerates cutting, shade-casting, long-lasting.
Video: Hanging elm in all its glory
Leaf
Trees and bushes with drooping branches can hardly be distinguished from one another during the leafless period. With the fresh shoots the guesswork comes to an end. Elm trees in general and the hanging elm in particular can be recognized by these leaf characteristics:
- Leaf shape: short-stemmed, asymmetrical (one leaf side is larger), obovate, pointed, serrated leaf edge.
- Leaf size: 10 cm to 15 cm long, rarely up to 20 cm.
- Leaf color: Top medium to dark green, bottom light green.
- Texture: feathery, rough on top, hairy on bottom.
- Autumn coloring: golden yellow
- Arrangement: alternate
Bloom
In early spring there is a lot of activity on the hanging elm crowns because it is flowering time. Wild bees, bumblebees and butterflies gather for a rich pollen harvest. Even before the leaves emerge, flowers develop with these characteristics:
- Inflorescence: umbel-shaped in clusters.
- Flower color: brown-red
- Flowering time: March to April
- flower ecology: hermaphrodite
The flowers of a weeping elm primarily produce pollen as a vital food source for the first wild bees. Nectar is only present in very small quantities at the base of the stamens.
Fruit
After the flowering period, a weeping elm produces fruits with these identifying characteristics:
- Fruit type: winged nut fruit with one seed.
- Fruit size: 10 mm to 25 mm long.
- Fruit ripeness: April and May.
Seeds contained in the fruits are light germinators and normal germinators.
Excursus
Elm disease cannot be stopped
For more than 100 years, a fungal infection has been inexorably killing millions of magnificent elm trees. Ascomycetes of the genus Ophiostoma ulmi syn. Ceratocystis ulmi cause typical wilting symptoms. Infected elm trees die within two to four years. The disease is transmitted by elm bark beetles (Scolytus), a subspecies of the dreaded bark beetles. The mountain elm (Ulmus glabra) is highly susceptible. The quaking elm (Ulmus leavis) has proven to be largely resistant. Scientists are still desperately searching for effective control methods.
Planting a hanging elm
The best time to plant a weeping elm is in spring. A second time window opens in the fall. You can buy a hanging elm at the tree nursery as a top graft on the standard trunk of a mountain elm. The quality of the plant material determines the price. An umbrella elm has modest demands on the location. The following tips provide information about details worth knowing about successful planting in the hobby garden:
Buy hanging elm
The purchase prices for a ready-to-plant leaf elm Ulmus glabra 'Pendula' range between 665 euros and 2,750 euros. The following table provides an insight into the broad price level as a snapshot without any claim to statistical representativeness:
| Trunk circumference | High trunk | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| 8-10 cm | 200-300 cm | 665 Euro |
| 10-12 cm | 200-300 cm | 725 Euro |
| 12-14 cm | 200-300 cm | 845 Euro |
| 14-16 cm | 200-300 cm | 900 euros |
| 16-18 cm | 300-400 cm | 950 euros |
| 18-20 cm | 300-400 cm | 1,200 euros |
| 20-25 cm | 300-400 cm | 1,300 euros |
| 25-30 cm | 300-400 cm | 1,650 euros |
| 30-35 cm | 300-400 cm | 2,750 euros |
In contrast, you can buy an Ulmus glabra 'Horizontalis' for a price between 360 euros and 990 euros. This wych elm cultivar also thrives with hanging branches, forms a narrow canopy and grows up to 8 meters tall.
Location
These are the ideal location conditions for a hanging elm:
- Sun to partial shade.
- Fresh to moderately moist, nutrient-rich and loose-drained garden soil, preferably calcareous.
Planting Tips
In order for a weeping elm to grow reliably, you should know the following planting tips:
- The planting pit is twice as big as the root ball.
- A loosened pit bottom allows the deep roots to grow in better.
- As starting fertilizer, the excavation is enriched with compost and horn shavings.
- A pouring rim is formed from the excess excavation.
- A support post protects the young weeping elm from being thrown by the wind until the taproot has drilled deep into the ground.
- The bale cloth is opened in the planting hole, a large container must be removed from the root ball.
Please tread the soil firmly, as cavities affect rooting. On the day of planting and afterwards, slurry the hanging elm with normal water without causing waterlogging. Ideally, you connect the support post (€5.00 at Amazon) and standard tree with a hose tie that does not cut into the young bark. Finally, you can mulch the tree disc with bark mulch.
Care for the hanging elm
The hanging elm is very easy to care for. An Ulmus glabra pendula is grateful for a regular supply of water and nutrients. An occasional pruning is beneficial for the well-groomed, densely leafy appearance. Propagation requires special knowledge of tree refinement. When it comes to weeping elm diseases, the focus is on Dutch elm disease. You can read the best care tips for a weeping elm in top shape here:
Pouring
- Water the hanging elm thoroughly when it is dry.
- Use normal water from the tap as irrigation water for a welcome extra dose of lime.
- Do not spray the crown of the umbrella and hanging branches to prevent mildew and other fungal infections.
- Regular mulching keeps the soil moist and weed-free for longer.
Fertilize
- Ulmus glabra pendula fertilize with compost and horn shavings in March and June.
- Spread fertilizer on the root disc, rake in and water again.
- Extra tip: Showering the tree disc with comfrey manure in autumn strengthens winter hardiness.
Cutting
- Cut the hanging elm if necessary during the leafless period.
- The best time to cut is in late winter when the weather is frost-free and dry.
- Thin out the umbrella crown every two to three years.
- Tear off wild shoots sprouting from the standard stem or the root disc as soon as possible.
Propagation
- Propagate hanging elm through copulation.
- In winter, graft a scion onto the standard wild rootstock.
- Good to know: The tree nursery will be happy to accept a suitable scion and carry out the grafting on your behalf. You can buy a mountain elm standard as a grafting base from January onwards for propagating hanging elms on your own.
Diseases and pests
Basically, the weeping elm is naturally resistant to diseases and pests. However, the robust resistance reaches its limits when infested with the elm bark beetle. In the worst case, the bark beetle subspecies carries the pathogenic agent for Dutch elm disease with it. Wilting symptoms in summer raise alarm bells for hobby gardeners.
The clear symptom is dark, circular discoloration when you cut a branch. In the early stages of infestation, cutting back to he althy wood can save the hanging elm. Otherwise, the affected weeping elm should be cleared.
Popular varieties
Beyond the popular Ulmus glabra pendula, you can buy these beautiful hanging elm varieties at the nursery:
- Weeping elm 'Horizontalis' (Ulmus glabra): majestic hanging elm, decorative umbrella crown with strongly drooping branches, 3 m to 8 m tall.
- Arbor elm 'Camperdownii': compact, less sprawling hanging elm for small gardens, growth height up to 6 m, growth width up to 4.5 m.
- Hanging elm 'Serpentina': Rarity with hanging, bizarrely twisted branches, representative house tree for the front garden and allotment.
FAQ
In the middle of summer, our weeping elm has brown, curled leaves that fall off. Why is that?
Wilting in the middle of the growing season is a characteristic symptom of Dutch elm disease. It is a rampant fungal infection that is one of the most important weeping elm diseases. The pathogens are mostly transmitted by elm bark beetles (Scolytus). The disease can be accurately diagnosed by cutting one or more branches and looking at the cross section. The ascomycetes cause dark, circular discolorations.
After a sudden night frost in May, my weeping elm tree is left with withered branches. Is it Dutch elm disease?
In May it is actually still too early for the dreaded Dutch elm disease. As a rule, the characteristic wilting symptoms do not appear until summer. Based on your advice, the weeping elm is likely suffering from frost damage. Cut affected branches back to he althy wood. Frozen shoots regenerate within four to six weeks after pruning. Shoots infected with the Dutch elm disease pathogen no longer recover.
The planned location of a hanging elm is in the shade of an ash tree until 3 p.m., then in full sun. Is that possible?
If the hanging elm only receives full sun after 3 p.m., this location is marginal. However, the weeping elm will probably come to terms with the low light supply. The more important question is the planting distance from a well-rooted ash tree. Weeping elms can only tolerate drought temporarily. In the long term, fresh, moist soil is vital. A location in direct competition with the roots of the ash tree is not recommended. Furthermore, dripping water from an ash tree crown can increase susceptibility to disease.
Can you transplant a ten year old weeping elm?
Within the first five to six years of growth, the hanging elm can easily cope with a change of location. With each additional year, the probability of failure increases. Good preparation reduces the risk. The best time is during the leafless period, ideally in autumn. Cut off the root ball over a large area and take as large a volume of soil as possible with you to the new location. A vigorous pruning will make up for the lost root mass. A good water supply prevents drought stress during rooting.
