I had previously posted how we've lost all our large water oaks in the last couple of years to rot and storms. And I posed a question about what some good options were for trees I could replace them with that grew quickly. One of the options was an elm tree.

We do actually have an elm tree in our front yard that apparently dropped some seeds and they've started sprouting. They're maybe 6" tall right now. I'd like to dig them up and transplant them before the lawn guy mows right over them.

What do I need to know about trying to grow elm seedlings? Do I need a certain size pot? What kind of soil? How often should I water, etc? I have no green thumb at all and have been known to kill succulents. Can I just dig them out and stick them in a pot with regular potting soil?

Going to be tough transplanting anything in this weather.

I don't know elms but youd probably be much better off to collect this years seeds and plant them in February/ March.

They are not too hard to grow from cuttings and cuttings will get you size alot faster. But cuttings are much easier to get started in the spring.

Interesting. So even though they've already started sprouting in the yard on their own, it's likely a fool's errand to move them to a pot until they get big enough to transplant somewhere in the yard?

WaldoWings said:

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They are not too hard to grow from cuttings and cuttings will get you size alot faster. But cuttings are much easier to get started in the spring.

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How do I do a cutting?

All I do is cut some branches about the diameter of a pencil, making the cut long and slanted. Probably make it about a foot long then remove all of the branches and leaves except for the top two leaves, then stick the branches in soil and keep moist. Some will work and some won't so probably make about twice what you want. You can dip the ends in rooting hormone but I don't know if it really make a difference. Some varieties this works on, but some it doesn't. I have a lot of luck with elms, willows, ashes and crepe myrtles. Just make sure you get two or three nodes in the soil. That's where the roots form.

If you really want to see some results and new shade @in your lifetime" go to the nursery and buy 8-10 foot starters if not bigger if you want to pay. Take a while just to go to from seed to that size. Jumpstart your growth.

As for the saplings just dig them up and repot a decent amount of existing dirt they are in now and fill with store dirt in small pots. Then as they grow transplant to larger pots until you want to put in the ground. But I'd treat this as just a hobby type of stuff.

Get good starters and plant when the weather cools off say October. They like staring over a winter into spring

We had cedar elms, some other elm tree and pecan trees around the house I grew up in. Needless to say, I picked up a ****ton of branches as a child.

try it......worst that can happen is you kill them and not the yard man.

AJ02 said:

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Interesting. So even though they've already started sprouting in the yard on their own, it's likely a fool's errand to move them to a pot until they get big enough to transplant somewhere in the yard?

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I would try digging and replanting. You will need to try and keep as much soul around the roots as possible and water a tone for the first few months.

It will take a while to get the seedling to.the size mentioned above , but the native seedling will outpace and pass up it up shortly thereafter. Heck do some of both and compare them in 10 years.

A 6" pot with regular topsoil or potting soil is okay for the next few months. When it gets root bound, move to a 12" pot or transplant into the permanent location.

Even though it is hot as hell, the cedar elm will do fine as long as you water it regularly. If it is in a pot, you should water every day as long as the tree is not sitting in water. It should drain in between waterings.

Once you transplant into the ground, water deeply at least once a week.... more if it is still 105 degrees every day.

BTW I have a couple of fully grown cedar elms that I pulled out of the hill country about 4" tall about 30 years ago.

Elm is the last kind of tree I would want

Can I ask why? We only have 1 elm on our property. One live oak, one post oak, several pines, and a ton of water oaks.

The water oaks are all reaching the end of their lives about the same time and either just dying, rotting from the inside, or blowing over in storms. Since we've lost all shade on our house and pool, i've been looking for something quick-growing. An elm ticked most of the boxes. I want something I can actually enjoy before I die.

Our neighbors have elm trees and the roots are tearing up our driveway. It's nice having the shade, but between the aggressive roots and the thousands of seedlings I have to pull out of my flower beds each year, I would never plant an elm tree on my property unless it was waaaaay far away from my house.

My mom planted an elm tree a good ways away from her house to shade the grandkids' play area. It is a constant battle pulling out all the elm seedlings in her massive flower beds.

Gotcha.

We have a huge backyard, so wanted to plant it smack dab in the middle. I would assume an elm follows the same "rule" as all other trees, right?.....the edge of the canopy is a rough estimate of where the roots extend?

The elms around my pool drop so many of those seed things that I have to empty the skimmer 2-3 times a day or they clog up everything. Only lasts a couple weeks, but it sucks.

We have to scoop pine needles constantly, so doesn't really add much for us to have to empty the skimmer baskets full of elm seeds.

I honestly haven't seen many of the elm seed ponds in our front yard. I mean, I guess we have them if I've had 4 seedlings sprout up. But I honestly don't even notice them. It's not an impressive elm. It's kinda overshadowed by our live oak.