Page 73 - Ebook cây cảnh Art of Bonsai

73

Japanese elm

Zelkova serrata
Key features
If you are looking for a tough tree that you can ∙You can defoliate at least twice
quickly grow into a small- or medium-sized a year in most climates to
specimen with a mass of fine branches, then zelkova encourage very small leaves
and dense branching. Remove
is for you. Its fall foliage is a bonus; it turns a deep
any larger leaves as soon
yellow and is a wonderful sight. Zelkova is almost as possible.
exclusively grown in the broom style, with its
∙Check regularly for multiple
branches radiating out from roughly the same point branches growing from a single
on the trunk, like a broom. node and thin to no more than
This mimics the shape of two branches.
the tree when it grows
in the wild.

Carry out directional
pruning after the
leaves have dropped
off or been removed

Looking closer
Top and center: Fine branching is
a feature of this tree. Prune the
new growth back to a bud that is
growing in the correct direction
In the broom style, all branches
start from a similar point on the to encourage secondary and
Perfectly trunk and fan out tertiary branches to develop.
straight trunk Below: The mass of fine branches
Planting the tree very Root-prune with is more obvious when the tree
slightly off-center care to develop a has shed its leaves in winter.
allows negative space well-rounded nebari
to enhance the shape

10in / 25cm tall
Courtesy of Ian Cuppleditch