Care for a Japanese Elm Tree

Japanese elms (Ulmus davidiana) are hardy elms that are more disease resistant than American elms. Although not brightly colored in the fall, Japanese elm fall colors include yellow, rust brown and red. Japanese elm can grow to 50 to 80 feet tall and 40 to 60 feet wide. Japanese elms can become invasive, so keep your eye out for shoots sprouting from the trees root structure. Remove them as they appear. As an elm that is resistant to Dutch elm disease, Japanese elms are an excellent replacement for areas where many American elms have been lost to Dutch elm disease.

Planting Location

The first step to caring for your Japanese elm is selecting the right location. Elms are not particular to light, and can do well in conditions ranging from full sun to partial shade. Elms need good drainage. You may need to augment poorly draining soils like heavy clay.

Mulch

Young trees may not have strong enough roots to survive the winter or dry spells. To help your tree establish its root structure, keep 2 to 4 inches of mulch over the roots for the first couple of years. Keep the mulch an inch or two from the trunk to help keep disease and bugs away.

Watering

Elms are fairly hardy. However, if it doesn't rain for a week or so, water your tree. However, it is important to let the soil dry out completely between waterings to prevent soil from compacting. Adjust your watering to suit your climate.

Pruning

Pruning can help direct growth of your Japanese elm. Elms have a tendency to branch close to the ground if not kept in check. Make sure the central trunk is allowed to reach 6 or 8 feet before allowing branching. This will likely require pinching off or pruning lower branches for the first few years of growth. If more than one leader grows, thin out the weaker one to encourage strong tree growth.

Uses in Bonsai

Japanese elms are popular as bonsai trees, an art form involving the placement and development of a tree or shrub kept in a pot for ornamental purposes. When growing a Japanese elm as a bonsai, rub out any unwanted buds or sprouts on the trunk. Prune your bonsai Japanese elm in the fall after the leaves have dropped off. Don't prune it in the spring as the sap is rising. Japanese elm have a tendency to show surface roots. While this is aesthetically pleasing, cover the roots on younger trees to ensure adequate root development. After the tree is between 5 and 10 years old, you can allow surface roots to peek through without endangering the tree's health.

References

• Japanese Elm
• Japanese Elm
• Watering Your Elm