Funny to see what the real story was behind what the poster lkz5ia claimed told him to "burn down the forest" haha. As for my exotics, I have some very effective management practices in place. Anything that may be harmful to the locals (plant animal, or human)I am extremely careful with or leave out altogether. Rest assured you will never see anything about a rogue Sorbus pallescens population choking native species in upstate New York. If you have to fight nature to get anything to grow due to your prairie environment, you're in the wrong place to be doing what you're doing. In my case I found a farm that has been cultivated for nearly 300 years, complete with big north facing slope for a peach orchard and sheltered ravine for things that might not otherwise have a chance. Location, location, location. To compare my practices with yours (and most of the other folks that have participated in this thread) is absolutely ludicrous. You can't reasonably expect to come on a forum like this, flaunt a "management practice" like THAT, and not expect people to raise some concerns. Nothing I do with my planting is risky, period...but thanks for calling me a riot- and a hypocrite. I'd like to also thank you for saving me the trouble of bringing up how each region (and ecosystem) calls for different protocol. Unfortunately you just don't seem to realize that yours could not be more wrong. That is, unless you start paving over the areas as well (I almost said "or plant Ailanthus"- but you actually have done that!). Beleive it or not, this is actually a topic I have spent a large amount of time and money studying AND implementing. I tried to be quite civil in my messages, but by all means continue your name-calling and foolish posts. They are becoming amusing and a "you won't beleive what this guy is doing" type story for my coworkers and other local landowners. Anyone know the conservation status of American Elm in Iowa?

I know there are pros and cons and it was nice and strong, had not been staked while at the farm. ==>>> well of course it wasnt.. it had an INTACT root system to hold it up ... i like to tell peeps.. that the root system underground.. is at least as big.. if not bigger than the tree above.. to help them conceptualize just what was cut off at transplant ... what does your have to hold it up??? HOPE???? stake it properly.. until it can grow enough roots.. to .. get this.. hold itself up ... and frankly.. we can only guess about all that ... you said: We got about 5" of rain in a 12 hr period yep.. the soil disturbed at planting.. liquified.. complicated by the fact that it leafed out.. and created what was basically a sailboat sail in a puddle ... and i dont see how you are going to stake ONLY the rootball with that sized sail ... looking forward.. start enjoying those stakes.. and leave them there for about 2 years.. until hopefully it will grow enough roots to maintain vertical .. ask if you need info on PROPER MULCHING.. and PROPER WATERING ... what you dont mention.. is your native soil type.. and what may or may not have been added to the planting hole ... i would disregard any worry about breaking a few branches.. or what little root growth there may have been ... and i presume it was warrantied .. and i would politely put the seller on notice.. especially if he installed it ... because apparently his stake theory was wrong ... and next time.. think about not going bigger than a one inch caliper.. they transplant easier.. cope better.. and are less stressed all things considered.. and in a given 5 years span.. would probably outgrow the 2 inch ... and this can be used as a bargaining chip for a smaller replacement.. should the seller balk for some reason. ... ken

Beng: Sadly, as previous posters have indicated, there is NO preventative or treatment for EY. There may be some pesticides available to control the vector (white banded elm leaf hopper?) but as the tree matures, I would think that would become increasingly prohibitive. D.C. elms and they are planting quuite a number of them, could be in jeapardy since EY is supposed to be spreading in that direction. The legacy elms at Penn State are about to be subjected to an onslaught, as well. Alden Townsend, who conducted the elm innoculation studies for the National Arboretum, posted a disclaimer on the web shortly after the release of Valley Forge and New Harmony stating that all american elm selections involved in his study did show susceptibility to EY in the lab. I would be curious to see if in fact Princeton did show resistance, although I would probably not plant in area where EY was known to exist. I don't believe EY as as widespread and systemic as ded and tends to be spotty. I hope this isn't a major outbreak.

scotjute thank you for relating your observations. It stands to reason that certain species of elms would develop differently in various growing conditions and climate. I've been to Lost Maples many times, but I was mostly looking at the maple trees growing there as well as the birds and other wild life and wasn't paying attention to the elms. Incidentally, today I came upon a similar elm tree about two blocks away as the one pictured above. It also has leaning multiple trunks and gold/orange leaves, but has seeds; most of which are still clinging to the tree. The leaves on both are only slightly larger than my Cedar Elm (see below) which is just now starting to turn yellow. ... Below is a photo of my 32 yr old Cedar Elm taken today. It happens to have a more spreading form than many of the wild growing trees around San Antonio. ... NHBabs, Wow! I wasn't aware there were so many varieties of elms growing in the US.Thank you for the link to the chart. Thanks to everyone for their input. Other than my curiosity I guess it would only be important to know the variety of elm if one were looking to find one like it to plant.