Squat elm in household and garden plantings is most widespread in comparison with other types of trees of the same genus. Possessing absolute unpretentiousness, it simultaneously became a valuable breed in protective afforestation and weed, along with the American maple, which drowns out more valuable plantings.
About the title
In the people it is very often possible to meet the word "elm", by which is meant not only squat elm. The name is rather collective in nature and translated from Turkic literally means “bark” and “black”. It often means several types of elms at once, including small-leaved ones.
Habitat
The natural habitat for squat elm is mainly China, or rather, the north-west and north-east of the country. In addition, the tree can be found in Western Siberia, Mongolia, India, Korea, Tibet. It is cultivated in the Americas as a reforestation and in landscape gardening culture. The tree is undemanding to growing conditions, but prefers fertile soils. It occurs in deciduous and mixed forests.
Squat Elm: Description
The tree is tall and in nature, under favorable conditions, reaches 25 m with a trunk diameter of about 1 m. In the arid climate of the natural habitat, it grows into a shrub form. Despite the popular name elm, the bark of the tree is not black, but has a gray-brown or saturated gray shade, smooth, cracking is possible. Young shoots differ in color from adults. They have a light gray tint with yellowness, the surface is rough or smooth, with scattered lentils.
Squat elm has characteristic oval or lanceolate-elliptical leaves, reaching a length of 2 to 8 cm and a width of 1.2-3.5 cm. The base of the plate is symmetrical with a pointed apex and serrated edges. The color of the leaf changes during the seasons, in spring it is light green, in the summer it is more saturated, in autumn the tree acquires an olive-yellow hue (in the photo below, the elm avenue in September-October). The fruit is an almost rounded lionfish, growing in diameter up to 1-1.5 cm, with a nut located in the middle.
Growing conditions
Squat elm, the photo of which you see in the article, does not have a high life expectancy - only 40-60 years. However, during this time it reaches an impressive size. The growth rate of the tree is high and is not inferior to white acacia or ash maple. In culture, elm is unpretentious and imposes minimal requirements on soil fertility, as well as moisture content in it. It tolerates salinization, is highly resistant to drought, is winter-hardy (can withstand up to -36 ° C). The only thing to consider is the tree is photophilous, tolerates partial shade, but develops worse.
Squat elm was introduced into the culture since 1860. It is used when landscaping parks and squares. Especially appreciated in the arid regions of the country. It forms a powerful root system of the surface type. It tolerates gassed city air, haircut and pruning. Recent features are used to create hedges. Propagated only by seeds, does not form root offspring and, therefore, thickets, which is an undoubted plus. It has a decorative weeping shape with flowing branches. The most beautiful tree in the fruiting period.
Squat elm: how to use it in the garden?
Elm is a very beautiful tree with long shoots and large serrated leaves, it looks especially impressive in the autumn, when it is completely covered with fruits. In decorative gardening, the plant has been used since ancient times. When choosing it for planting on its site, it should be remembered that the tree is photophilous and only in the sun its beauty is fully revealed.
Crohn lends itself well to pruning and shaping. However, one should not rush into this. In the first years of cultivation, only damaged and dry twigs should be removed. Forming pruning is possible from about 4 years of growth, while you should not forget about the use of garden var. In general, the tree is resistant to diseases and pests.
Squat elm, whose height reaches 25 m, is very good in group, single-planting and mixed, in the form of alleys in parks and as a tapeworm. Single-planted specimens surrounded by smooth green lawn are very effective, especially if you use a hybrid with a weeping crown shape. Only when nothing interferes with a tree can it open in full glory. Under such conditions, his crown will be of the correct form, and the trunk will be straight and strong. Tapeworm planting is used as an accent on the site, as it always attracts the eye. However, one should remember the proportionality of the plant and the area. A large area - a large tree and vice versa, otherwise all charm will be lost.
Using Elm for Berso
One of the unusual uses of elm is the creation of beautiful bersos. Covered galleries create from the crossbeams installed on the supports along garden paths or alleys. Trees are planted on the sides, the branches of which are neatly bent and fixed on the frame. Growing gradually, they form a single continuous green tunnel, as in the photo. Given the high speed of elm, a decorative effect can be achieved quite quickly.
By design and appearance, bersos are often compared with a pergola. However, the latter can be safely called the younger sister of the first. Berso, although very similar, is still more large-scale and massive, longer, and the green cover is more dense. Pergola is rather exceptionally decorative and easy to perceive, suitable for small areas and courtyards. Berso is the prerogative of large gardens and parks; arbors are often installed at the beginning and end of this stunning tunnel.
Reforestation
It has already been mentioned above that squat elm is actively used to restore forests in areas that have undergone fires or deforestation. The main method is still considered the manual planting of seedlings using the Kolesov sword. An interesting fixture is, in fact, a narrow steel shovel. She was invented by the director of the Kharkov agricultural school A.A. Kolesov in 1883 for planting pine on sandstones.
The use of elm in such measures is due to several factors. Firstly, the tree is characterized by a high growth rate, and in the first years, young seedlings give growth of up to one meter in the presence of favorable conditions. Secondly, the species quickly forms thickets, propagating self-seeding. Thirdly, the tree is undemanding to soils, drought tolerant, patient with severe frosts and salinization. Thus, elm can grow almost everywhere.