Re: How to prune Ulmus glabra Pendula?

In a message dated 8/23/04 8:04:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
forshade@PRAIRIENET.ORG writes:


> In United States, we name Ulmus glabra Pendula as Ulmus glabra
> 'Camperdownii'.  This may be different from your plant.

If this is the plant discussed (camperdown elm) , here is what happened to
mine.  I bought one three years ago, also expensive and also much wanted at the
time.

It made it through a winter here and was doing well the following spring when
my grandson, learning to drive the small tractor, drove over it.  I have no
idea how tall the leader would have been if not damaged.  The seller had two
sizes, one much taller than the one I bought.  I needed to stuff mine in a
Subaru station wagon.

My plant is not a top graft, it is grafted at the crown.  About one foot (30
cm.) of the little tree survived the second winter and sent out shoots very
low.  It is clear that this tree will be a ground cover if a new leader is not
made with a stake and some pruning.  So it now has a strong stake and we will
keep pushing it up for a few years.

The previous advice on making a new leader is the only way to go if you have
a graft headed in low, I don't see another way to increase the height.  The
staking and pruning will just take a few years to a mature look but under the
circumstances, what can be done.

We are commonly doing this with conifers damaged by various bud worms every
spring.  It is not a difficult job.  A leader looking a bit wobbly will even
out in a few years and one hardly notices it.

I suppose if a taller leader is wanted an taller tree trained in the nursery
would be purchased.  It is sometimes hard to transport a tall woody plant a
distance in a smaller car.

Claire Peplowski
NYS zone 4
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