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Click the picture to enlarge it.
I have done quite a lot of work over the past year with this tree,
I repotted it a while back so I could lift the plant and reveal some roots, I am training them over rocks and intend to get involved with them again later in the year. The light ring around the tree indicates the deapth it was previously into the soil, I would like to darken the light coloured ring.
The tree suffered a major fracture to the highset branch where it joined the top of the tree and I have been encouraging a new branch to grow and take over as the top directional branch. this branch has been bent with wire to allow it to retain a drooped curve which echoes much the rest of the trees shape (I hope), a shape I have been replicating in different parts of the tree.
This I have tried to compliment by thinning out many of the smaller branches but I am a bit lost as to which direction to take the whole shape of the tree.
William
Hiya.
The light ring should age and blend in with the rest of the tree over the next season or two once it gets exposed to the air. I wouldn't concern myself unduly about this.
Please see my suggested outline for the tree. Here's a link to the adjusted image I made:
[img]https://s5.exoload.com/uploads/606/1149624299.jpg[/img]
My initial concern was finding you a new leader as the tree meandered away to the right and with the heavy branch following in this direction made the tree look slightly unstable. I therefore adjusted the planting angle to make the side branch now look like a natural continuation of the trunk and kept this line going with a branch which will form the top of the tree.
There are two branches which are rather thick compared to their position on the tree (remember lower branches should be thicker and weightier than branches near the top of the tree). Keep an eye out for buds breaking near to the base of these thick branches and allow them to grow on, gradually reducing and cutting back the thick branch, eventually you will be able to remove it with knob cutters and have a better proportioned branch
.
I apologise for turning your elm into a stylised juniper but my Photoshop skills aren't very good. I hope you get the idea about general branch placement and planting angle (remember to site branches behind too for depth - can't really do this justice in a 2D image).
The light ring should age and blend in with the rest of the tree over the next season or two once it gets exposed to the air. I wouldn't concern myself unduly about this.
Please see my suggested outline for the tree. Here's a link to the adjusted image I made:
[img]https://s5.exoload.com/uploads/606/1149624299.jpg[/img]
My initial concern was finding you a new leader as the tree meandered away to the right and with the heavy branch following in this direction made the tree look slightly unstable. I therefore adjusted the planting angle to make the side branch now look like a natural continuation of the trunk and kept this line going with a branch which will form the top of the tree.
There are two branches which are rather thick compared to their position on the tree (remember lower branches should be thicker and weightier than branches near the top of the tree). Keep an eye out for buds breaking near to the base of these thick branches and allow them to grow on, gradually reducing and cutting back the thick branch, eventually you will be able to remove it with knob cutters and have a better proportioned branch
.I apologise for turning your elm into a stylised juniper but my Photoshop skills aren't very good. I hope you get the idea about general branch placement and planting angle (remember to site branches behind too for depth - can't really do this justice in a 2D image).