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Small-leaved elm is an evergreen tree with a fairly powerful trunk and drooping, numerous branches. Looks beautiful in single plantings, as well as in hedges. Thanks to even the simplest pruning, you can get a beautiful ball or other attractive shapes. The rules for planting and recommendations for caring for elm are described in detail in this article.
Description and characteristics of small-leaved elm
Small-leaved elm (lat. Ulmus parvifolia) is also called squat, elm or elm. It is a deciduous tree belonging to the genus of the same name from the elm family.
The plant actually produces numerous small leaves that are elliptical, ovate or obovate in shape. The color is rich green, the surface is leathery, glossy. The petioles are small, from 2 to 6 mm. The tree is evergreen only in mild winter conditions.In Russia and other countries with harsh climates, elm is a deciduous plant.
Height of small-leaved elm
The tree is quite tall, reaches 12-15 m. The trunk is quite powerful, up to 1 m in diameter. It grows quickly - in the first 10 years up to 30-40 cm annually, then the pace slows down to 10-20 cm. They largely depend on the nutritional value of the soil and features of care.
Small-leaved elm crown diameter
The crown of the small-leaved elm is thick and wide, spreads out well, and is spherical. The diameter reaches 4-5 m, which must be taken into account when planting. The minimum distance to the nearest plantings and buildings is 3-4 m.
Where does small-leaved elm grow?
The natural habitat of the tree is Northeast Asia. It can be found both in Russia and in neighboring countries:
- Transbaikalia;
- southern regions of the Far East;
- Northern Mongolia;
- China;
- Japan;
- Korea.
Elm also grows in Europe:
- european part of Russia;
- Scandinavia;
- Balkans.
Most often, elm is found in broad-leaved and mixed forests. It can be found not only in the thick of the thickets, but also on the edge. Moreover, both in the form of a powerful tree and as a low shrub.
How elm blooms
The first flowering of small-leaved elm is observed in the period from 5 to 7 years. Then it produces buds every year. The flowers are small, have five short stamens, and are collected in spherical bunches. The pedicels are barely noticeable, only 1-2 mm long. Inflorescences appear in late summer - early autumn.
After this, fruits are formed already in October-November. They are yellow-brown, oval-shaped lionfish. Quite small, reaching 1-2 cm in length. At the tops the edges overlap each other, forming small groups. The seeds grow in the very center of the lionfish, next to the notch. The weight of one fruit reaches 5-6 g.
How long does an elm live?
Small-leaved elm is a long-lived plant. Even with the most basic care, he will live 80-100 years. If the climate is suitable and the planting site is chosen correctly, some representatives live up to 200 and even 300 years. The tree does not need to be replanted - on the contrary, it is better not to disturb it, having initially carefully chosen the optimal location.
Methods of application
Small-leaved elm is quite important for humans. It is used in several areas at once:
- The fruits, bark and leaves of the plant have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and astringent effects. They are used to treat various pathologies, for example, rheumatism, skin diseases, swelling or intestinal disorders.
- Small-leaved elm can also be grown at home, i.e. in a regular flower pot. It will reach a height of only 50-80 cm, but it produces a powerful trunk and beautiful shoots with graceful branches. Bonsai is made from them - small trees, which in shape and size ratio are no different from the original ones grown in the garden.
- Small-leaved elm wood is not only durable, but also flexible. It withstands static and dynamic loads (impacts) well, and is cheaper, for example, compared to oak. This material is used as an inexpensive analogue. In addition, the bark is red-brown, reminiscent of a noble mahogany tree. Used in the manufacture of furniture.
- Small-leaved elm bark contains quite a lot of tannins. They are used for tanning leather and in the synthesis of dyes.
- Elm is often planted in parks and gardens. Trees adapt well to urban conditions, as they can withstand both dust and smoke. They can also be used in landscape design of country gardens.
Landing rules
It is better to plan planting at the end of winter - beginning of spring, while the seedlings are still dormant. You must first select a suitable growing location for small-leaved elm. It must meet several requirements at once:
- good illumination (even partial shade is undesirable);
- loose and fertile soil with a neutral reaction;
- slight elevation (lowlands are excluded because a lot of water accumulates here).
Before planting, it is advisable not only to dig up the soil, but also to lime it (200 g per 1 m2). If the soil is depleted, it is worth adding compost, humus or complex mineral fertilizer. The process of planting small-leaved elm looks like this:
- Mark a sufficiently deep hole 60*60 cm.
- Add a layer of small stones.
- Place the seedling in the center and dig in with fertile soil.
- Compact, leaving the root collar flush with the surface.
- Water well with settled water (if the soil is wet and has not dried out after the melted snow, skip this step).
Caring for small-leaved elm
As already mentioned, wood is not too demanding to care for. However, to ensure rapid growth, it is important to create suitable conditions:
- Young seedlings are watered twice a week, mature trees only twice a month as needed.
- Once every 2-3 years, lime is added to the soil in an amount of 200 g per 1 m2.
- If the soil is depleted, it is advisable to fertilize it 2-3 times per season (for example, in April, June and July). To do this, it is worth using both complex mineral and organic fertilizers.
- The tree trunk circle should sometimes be loosened. At the same time, weeds are removed.
- At the very beginning of March, mandatory pruning is done to remove all diseased and frostbitten branches. They also remove shoots that greatly spoil the shape of the crown.
Reproduction methods
The easiest way to propagate small-leaved elm is by cuttings. Work should be planned for the end of May - beginning of June. The sequence of actions is as follows:
- Cut green shoots 10-15 cm long.
- Make an oblique lower cut and a straight upper one.
- Place in a solution of “Epin”, “Energen” or another growth stimulant.
- Next, small-leaved elm cuttings are planted in a 2:1 mixture of compost and sand.
- Cover with a jar and periodically water and ventilate.
- Then in the fall they are transplanted to a permanent place and carefully mulched for the winter.
Small-leaved elm can also be propagated by layering. At the beginning of summer, the lower shoots are bent to the soil, pinned and then sprinkled with fertile soil. Water, feed, and in the fall they are cut off from the mother bush and transferred to a permanent place.
There is also a seed method for propagating small-leaved elm. But the grains ripen quite late, and they do not always retain varietal characteristics. The grains are planted in early spring in common boxes and seedlings are grown, which two years later are transferred to open ground.
Diseases and pests
Small-leaved elm is quite often exposed to pests and diseases:
- anthracnose;
- dying of branches with rotting of the bark;
- spider mites;
- bark beetles.
It is quite possible to save small-leaved elm at an early stage of the disease. In addition, preventive measures should be observed - treatment with drugs in the spring. Fungicides are used against fungi:
- "Ordan";
- "Bordeaux mixture";
- "HOME."
Infestations of insects and mites on small-leaved elm are treated with insecticides:
- "Match";
- "Karbofos";
- "Colorado".
How to get rid of elm on the site
Small-leaved elm is unpretentious and can sometimes appear on the site as a weed. In this case, it must be removed. The most reliable way is to cut down and uproot, but this is not always possible due to labor intensity.
Therefore there is another option:
- Drill a hole in the hemp.
- Pour in a concentrated solution of saltpeter.
- Next year the roots will rot and stop sprouting.
- After this, uprooting the stump will become much easier.
Small-leaved elm in landscape design
The tree is often used as an ornamental plant in gardens, parks and squares. The main use cases in garden design look like this:
- Single planting against a lawn background.
- A hedge made of elm. The height can be from 1 to 3 and even 5 m. It turns out to be quite dense, and at the same time it consists of thin shoots, so it looks beautiful. Requires only minimal pruning and maintenance. At the same time, it does not produce root suckers.
- Small-leaved elm in the shape of a ball - usually up to 1.5 m in height. It produces a dense crown with numerous graceful leaf blades. The branches are thin and fit well into the overall outline.
- Planting next to the path against the backdrop of a flower arrangement.
Conclusion
Small-leaved elm can be grown both at home and on your site.The tree is unpretentious, but requires choosing a suitable place for planting, which should be sunny and not too wet. It is not difficult to care for the plant - it is occasionally watered and fed, but the main thing is that it is pruned regularly. Thanks to this, you can get a very beautiful hedge or green ball.