Chinese Elm - Frost Damage. Scottsdale, Arizona

last year

last modified: last year

I have 2 Chinese Elms in my backyard, planted about 18 months ago, now standing about 10 ft tall.

Both trees lost their foliage during the recent cold snap, and while one is recovering with lots of new green leafage, the other is bare - no sign of any buds or green leaf, with the exception of 2 shoots that have sprung out from the base of the tree and stand about 18 inches tall.

I am not sure if the tree needs time, whether the shoots are stealing/diverting nourishment from the canopy, or whether it is a goner.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

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Comments (8)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
any chance at some pix..

sprouting only from the bottom.. is a good sign.. most if not all above.. is dead.. but the roots arent ....

whether it was due to some minor cold snap.. is questionable.. do you have a warranty???

i would give it another month or so... to see if there is any hope left ...

if not.. its a different procedure if you want to regrow from the root mass ... and we would deal with that in the fall ... your biggest issue.. is you have a reduced root mass from recent transplant.. and you have reduced leaves due to cold... you cant use up stored energy.. and not be able to replace it ....

ken
Alex Woodruff
Original Author
last year
Thank you Ken for the advice.

Here are some images to accompany my description.
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Alex Woodruff
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
As you can see - this tree gives us some privacy from overlooking windows. The shoots that were 18 inches have grown incredibly since the last time I looked a couple weeks ago - they are now close to 4 feet.
L Clark (zone 4 WY)
last year
Is that a hummingbird sitting in the tree?
Alex Woodruff
Original Author
last year
Yes it is - that is one of our 3 resident Anna's Hummingbirds. We have a Costa's too, but I haven't seen him for a while.
L Clark (zone 4 WY)
last year
last modified: last year
Very cool.

Anyway, it doesn't look great. Are the twigs of the top part pliable?
Alex Woodruff
Original Author
last year
They are not totally brittle, but not what I would call pliable.
BillMN-z-2-3-4
last year
last modified: last year
Hi Alex!

Aside from whether or not the trees will live, and I think they will. It's generally not a good idea to stake trees so rigidly like shown in your pictures.

The stake(s) should be about a foot from the trunk and the ties should be made of a strong but stretchable material (I use nylon stocking material), so the tree can sway and move to an extent when the wind blows. This is done because it allows the trunk and roots to adapt to conditions it will face later when not supported, growing stronger over time.

If the tree won't stand straight by itself, another stake can be put opposite side of the tree, same distance away. That way the ties will hold the trunk in a more central position when the wind isn't blowing.

Just thought I'd mention that. :-)

bill

Chinese Elm - Frost Damage. Scottsdale, Arizona

Comments (8)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Alex Woodruff
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Chinese Elm - Frost Damage. Scottsdale, Arizona

Comments (8)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Alex WoodruffOriginal Author

Related Discussions

Alex WoodruffOriginal Author

L Clark (zone 4 WY)

Alex WoodruffOriginal Author

L Clark (zone 4 WY)

Alex WoodruffOriginal Author

BillMN-z-2-3-4

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Alex Woodruff
Original Author

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