Is Elm making a comeback or is it just a fairytale?

[kev7937]

Yea 99% sure its Ulmus minor, smooth leaved elm or english elm whatever you want to call it. The woodland area is close to Edinburgh if thats any use to you. So what age and or size do you think they would need to be before the beetle would be interested in them? Just seems a shame to think they are doomed and have no real chance to become mature trees.

 

I'm in Surrey and pretty sure most of them are Ulmus procera round here ( not 100% on that though)

 

They seem to reach 20-25 feet here before they succumb and I read on here somewhere it's to do with the size of the phloem tubes but tbh I've only picked up snippets here and there so hopefully one of those proper tree expert people will be along to fill you in better.

 

 

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[David Goss]

I'm in Surrey and pretty sure most of them are Ulmus procera round here ( not 100% on that though)

 

They seem to reach 20-25 feet here before they succumb and I read on here somewhere it's to do with the size of the phloem tubes but tbh I've only picked up snippets here and there so hopefully one of those proper tree expert people will be along to fill you in better.

 

 

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yea sorry i think i got my elms a bit mixed up

Ulmus procera it is

[Highland Forestry]

yea sorry i think i got my elms a bit mixed up

Ulmus procera it is

 

David - about 10 to 12 inch is the right time to start taking them down before the DED gets em!

[Stereo]

They grow like weeds here but cop it when they get so big. We just harvest the wood at the mo.

[David Goss]

David - about 10 to 12 inch is the right time to start taking them down before the DED gets em!

 

Damned shame that:thumbdown:

I have seen them bigger than that and still alive so i still hold out hope for them yet. Dont see any point cutting them down while they still live and feel bad taking them out in favor of a sycamore for example, thats probably just going to get mauled by squirrels anyway.

[Nick B]

They get to about 25 - 30 feet in the hedgerows down here, then die off.

It is such a shame and I hope that the Ash trees do not end up the same.

[Big J]

I have no complaints - the scrub regeneration elm makes the best firewood I know of. Nothing else lasts as long overnight.

[woodyguy]

Remember that this is only the most recent outbreak of dutch elm disease and that most elms were wiped out during the stone age. They got going again within a few hundred years though. With their suckering habit they will eventually re-establish. Meanwhile Wych elm from seed is doing pretty well and seems more resistent.

 

The lack of suckering from Ash makes it more vulnerable I suspect so lets hope that the resistance is genuine.

[David Goss]

Remember that this is only the most recent outbreak of dutch elm disease and that most elms were wiped out during the stone age. They got going again within a few hundred years though. With their suckering habit they will eventually re-establish. Meanwhile Wych elm from seed is doing pretty well and seems more resistent.

 

The lack of suckering from Ash makes it more vulnerable I suspect so lets hope that the resistance is genuine.

 

We have a lot of large wych elm around here and they are doing well. As for the ash we have a lot of regen ash from seed as well so i think it will do ok. As you said this is the most recent outbreak of ded and i think these things come round in cycles. Thats why i was thinking the elms are fighting back just now because there is huge numbers of them slowly making their way back. Just needs time and will be more than our lifespan.

[john p]

I have no complaints - the scrub regeneration elm makes the best firewood I know of. Nothing else lasts as long overnight.

 

yep,its the dogs bollox when it comes to firewood