Mountain elm (Ulmus glabra)

View of the Ulmus glabra tree

Image - Wikimedia / anro0002

The tree known as ulmus glabra It is a very fast growing plant that produces a pleasant shade, and also, if this is not enough, it reaches impressive heights. It is perfect for growing in large gardens, whether private or public.

Its maintenance is so simple that it will be hard to believe that it is so beautiful throughout the year. Learn more,

Origin and characteristics

Elm leaves are deciduous

Image - Wikimedia / Sauce

It is a deciduous tree native to the mountains of Europe, popularly known as montane elm, mountain elm or mountain elm. Reaches 40 meters in height, with a more or less wide canopy of about 4-5m. The leaves are simple, alternate, with a serrated margin, asymmetrical at the base and acuminate.

Its flowers, which sprout in early spring before the leaves, are grouped in inflorescences and are hermaphrodite, without petals, in number from 10 to 20. The fruit is a samara that measures about 2,5cm long by 2cm wide. provided with wings with smooth edges and a seed.

What are their cares?

If you want to have a copy, we recommend that you provide it with the following care:

Location

Outside, in full sun. Being a large tree, it is important to plant it as far as possible from pipes, walls, walls, large plants, etc. The ideal would be to leave a minimum distance of 10 meters from these things so that, on the one hand, it does not cause problems, and on the other, it could have an excellent development.

Earth

  • Garden: grows in all types of soils, even clayey ones. But yes, he prefers those that are capable of absorbing water quickly.
  • Flower pot: no substrate problems, as long as it has a pH between 6 and 7,5, such as universal growing medium or mulch for example. However, it is not a plant that can be grown in a container throughout its life, unless it is pruned into a bush or bonsai shape (here we explain the care of elm bonsai).

Irrigation

The mountain elm does not withstand drought; However, it doesn't hurt to go a few days without water. In addition, in the event of torrential rains from time to time a year, rather than harming you, they could benefit you (especially if it is grown in areas such as the Mediterranean region, where temperatures in summer are very high and low rainfall is a problem). .

But so that everything goes smoothly, it is highly recommended to water it at least twice a week during the hottest season, and somewhat less the rest of the year. If it is potted, water 3-4 times in the warm season, and the rest 2 / week.

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From early spring to late summer It must be paid with organic fertilizers, such as guano (get it in powder here and liquid by here) for example, once a month. Use liquid fertilizers if you have a pot so that the drainage continues to be good.

Multiplication

The inflorescences of the mountain elm are not very decorative

Image - Wikimedia / Gmihail

The elm is multiplied by seeds and cuttings. Let's see how to proceed in each case:

Seeds

They are sown in spring, following this step by step:

  1. First, a seedling tray must be filled with universal growing medium.
  2. Then, it is watered consciously.
  3. Afterwards, a maximum of two seeds are sown in each socket, and they are covered with a thin layer of substrate.
  4. Next, sprinkle with copper or sulfur to prevent the appearance of fungus.
  5. Finally, with a sprayer / atomizer, water is sprayed on the surface, and the tray is placed outside, in semi-shade.

Keeping the substrate moist, they will germinate in about 3 or 4 weeks.

Cuttings

Pieces of semi-woody branch of about 30cm are taken at the end of winter, and we proceed to:

  1. Impregnate the base with homemade rooting agents or rooting hormones.
  2. Fill a pot with vermiculite previously moistened with water.
  3. Plant the cutting in this pot, making a hole in the substrate, in the center before (and not nailing it directly).
  4. Water and place the pot outside, in semi-shade.

Thus, it will emit its own roots after about 2 months.

Pests

View of adult elm beetle

It is sensitive to the attack of:

  • Borers (scolytus scolytus): digs galleries in the branches and trunk, weakening the plant. It is fought with Methyl-paration.
  • Mealybugs: cottony or limpet-like, they feed on the sap of the leaves, but they fight well with diatomaceous earth, potassium soap or paraffin.
  • Elm Galeruca (Galerucella luteola): both larvae and adults feed on the leaves, leaving the veins. It is treated with insecticides such as Malathion.
  • Defoliator caterpillars: they feed on the leaves, making them look pierced. It is treated with Malalation.
  • Trunk drills (Zeuzera Pyrina y cossus cossus): by digging galleries in the trunk, they greatly weaken the tree, causing premature leaf drop. The best treatment is prevention, applying insecticidal oil in winter.

Management

You can get sick from:

  • Trunk caries: caused by fungi such as Polyporus or Formes. They enter through pruning wounds, and after a short time their fruiting bodies (mushrooms) can be seen on the trunk.
    The best thing to do is avoid large pruning cuts, and use previously disinfected tools.
  • Bark cankers: they are fungi that enter the trunk and spread throughout the plant, causing browning and falling of the leaves.
    It can be treated with fungicides, but the fight is difficult.
  • Elm graphiosis: it is caused by fungi of the genus Ophiostoma, which causes defoliation and death of the tree.
    As soon as the first signs are detected, the affected parts must be cut and treated with benomyl, thiabendazole or carbendazime.

Pruning

Late winter Dry, diseased, weak or broken branches should be removed, and those that are growing too much should be trimmed.

Rusticity

It resists frosts of up to -20ºC.

What uses does it have?

In addition to being used as an ornamental plant, planted as an isolated specimen or in rows, it is also used to:

  • Wood: used in carpentry, joinery, marquetry, turnery, hydraulic or ship constructions, etc.
  • Firewood: it provides a light charcoal, the ashes of which, by containing potassium, serve in turn to fertilize the soil.
  • Leaves: as fodder.
  • Cortex: it is medicinal, since it has astringent and sudoriferous properties.
View of the tree Ulmus glabra 'Horizontalis'

Image - Wikimedia / Melburnian

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