With its golden leaves, the golden elm is an eye-catcher in the garden all summer long. However, you have to consider a few things when planting.
The golden elm is a particularly attractive member of the elm family. The golden yellow leaves enrich every garden. There, the golden elm can grow to a height of up to ten meters and become an impressive eye-catcher. The foundations for he althy growth are laid as early as the planting stage. What you should consider when a golden elm moves into your garden can be read below.
Plant Description
| Golden elm (Ulmus carpinifolia 'Wredei') | |
|---|---|
| Growth Speed: | 20 - 40 cm a year |
| Growth: | 500 - 1,000 cm |
| Growth: | 300 - 500 cm |
| Root system: | Deep Roots |
| Location: | Sun to partial shade |
| Floor: | nutrient-rich garden soil |
Golden elms (Ulmus hollandica 'Wredei') grow upright, initially columnar. Older plants form a more funnel-shaped crown. The crown can expand up to five meters in width. The curled leaves appear golden yellow when they sprout and turn yellow-green over time. The yellow autumn color is attractive. The flowers, which appear in April, are clustered tightly together and appear rather inconspicuous.
❖ Origin of the plant
Before planting, the hobby gardener should also consider the origin of the plant. Last but not least, where the plants have their natural origin is relevant for the choice of location. With the golden elm, no long considerations are necessary here, because it is a native tree species. The golden elm originated from a cross between mountain elm and field elm. The first crossings were made in 1875 in the arboretum in Alt-Geltow.
❖ Suitable Location
The trees should get a sunny location. Then the golden-yellow foliage will come into its own. The tree will also thrive in semi-shade. Was the location too shady?selected, the golden elm acknowledges this with green instead of golden-yellow leaves. Due to its rather small size, the golden elm can also be planted in smaller gardens. The unique position is to favorite so that the tree can develop and you can enjoy the colorful foliage.
❖ Ideal substrate
The golden elm prefers well drained and calcareous soil. The soil should not be too dry and at the same time allow the water to drain well. The permeability of the soil can be improved by adding sand or gravel. If, on the other hand, the soil is too light, adding lime or compost will help.
» Tip: The sunnier the location, the wetter the soil should be.
Barren soils don't benefit the golden elm. So make sure you use a nutrient-rich substrate. Furthermore, the plant requires a deep soil in order to be able to lead the roots far into the ground. It also slightly acidic to strongly alkaline soils are tolerated.
Considerations before planting
❖ Where does the golden elm grow best?
The unique position is preferable, then the golden elms are simply more attractive. In the vicinity of dark green plants, the color contrast appears particularly intense. Also because of the columnar growth form, conifers are welcome neighbors of the golden elm. The trees also stand out very well against walls, walls and other backgrounds.
❖ What is the size of the golden elm?
The golden elm grows like a shrub or develops into a small tree. A maximum height of about ten meters can be reached. Also note that the columnar crown can reach up to five meters in width.
❖ How fast does the golden elm grow?
Growth is rather moderate. The tree can grow between 25 and 40 centimeters in height every year.
❖ How deep do the roots go into the ground?
Golden elms form strong roots. These taproots can reach meters into the ground. You can stop this by installing a root barrier about one meter deep.
❖ When should the golden elm be planted?
You can plant the trees in spring or autumn. The ideal time is spring. Then the plants will have enough time to take root. The first frosts in autumn could endanger this.
Planting instructions - step by step
1. Select location
2. Prepare substrate
3. Water plant
4. Dig the planting hole
5. Insert the plant
6. Fill in the substrate
7. Press the soil
8. Water the plant
After choosing the location, the planting hole is dug twice the size of the root ball. So that the roots are well soaked with water, the seedling should be watered for about a quarter of an hour before planting.
» Tip: If no more bubbles rise from the water container, the hobby gardener knows that the golden elm has absorbed enough liquid.
The substrate is prepared accordingly. Soil that is too heavy should be loosened up so that the irrigation water can later drain away sufficiently. The addition of compost or horn shavings upgrades the soil and provides the seedling with valuable natural fertilizer. The young plants need water regularly.
Summary
| Step | Explanation |
| Select Location | A bright and sunny spot is preferred. The sunnier the location, the wetter the soil should be. In high heat, the soil can easily dry out and burn the leaves. In the shade, the plant loses its characteristic leaf color. |
| Prepare the ground | The substrate should be rich in nutrients. Calcareous and slightly acidic soils are preferred. Good permeability of the soil is important. Heavy soils should be loosened. |
| planting | The planting hole should be of sufficient size. The taproots dig deep into the earth. Before planting, the seedling should be watered for about ten minutes so that the roots can be supplied with liquid. After planting, the golden elm should be well watered. |
What should be considered when transplanting the golden elm?
Golden elms develop a complex and widely branched root system. This makes transplanting older trees more difficult. With younger trees, however, it is easily possible to change the location if the plant does not feel comfortable there or if the local conditions require a move. Up to an age of about four years, the roots are still rather sparsely developed.
How to proceed?
Even younger trees should not be transplanted immediately. In spring, before the trees sprout, dig a ditch around the trunk of the golden elm. Use a sharp spade to prick the soil as diagonally as possible to separate the fine roots. The resulting ditch can be filled with hummus.
Transplanting can be done in late summer. Dig up the tree carefully and stabilize the delicate root ball with burlap. This makes it easier for the tree to be transported to its new location and the fine roots do not tear off. Dig a sufficiently large hole and plant the sapling no deeper than it was before.
» Tip: If the trunk is planted too deep in the ground, it may rot.
The transplanting of older trees should be initiated a year in advance. The best time is autumn. Dig a ditch around the plant. This should exceed the circumference of the tree crown a little. The trench should be at least 40 centimeters deep so that all fine roots are safely separated. Fill in the trench with soil and hummus. By next summer, new fine roots have emerged. The tree is then carefully dug up and moved. So that the golden elm settles in better at the new location, the planting hole can be filled with soil from the old location.