Solid Elm tree line, what would you do?

[Cool Hand Luke]

How would you guys approach managing this tree line? It's honestly about 98% elm and don't even want to try and count how many. There's a few cedar, box elder and silver maple mixed in, maybe a cherry or two. Sizes range from a pool cue up to 8-10" in diameter. This was the back end of fence line in a former pasture and all these trees are growing within a foot or two of each other. Cornfield side is being planted into switch, so no worries on hinging some. Would that encourage feeding and bedding as well once I get switch growing? The culprit, I'm assuming is this magnificent, giant elm that I can't believe is even alive. It's at least over 140 years old, we can say for sure.

It's the perfect screen to block off the neighbors house up on the hill and it's also the main travel corridor leading to my property as there's nothing but ag fields on the adjacent side. I know, eventually these will all die...

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

Here's the back side of former pasture. I don't expect much movement on this side as the neighbors house is up the hill and on the left about 150 yds. I'm thinking more permanent screening with evergreens here. So as the elms die, this will fill in?

 

[Stubborn1VT]

Manage it for what, specifically? Neat project IMO.

One thing to consider: if that 140 YO elm is still living AND those are its offspring - perhaps they have some resistance?


As a guy who is interested in cutting trees and managing timber, I would consider two approaches.
1) They're obviously crowded. If I wanted to thicken the hedgerow up, I might cut every other tree to start, or 2) cut a test patch and see how it responds.
Really depends on your goals.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

Manage it for what, specifically? Neat project IMO.

One thing to consider: if that 140 YO elm is still living AND those are its offspring - perhaps they have some resistance?


As a guy who is interested in cutting trees and managing timber, I would consider two approaches.
1) They're obviously crowded. If I wanted to thicken the hedgerow up, I might cut every other tree to start, or 2) cut a test patch and see how it responds.
Really depends on your goals.

Man, great point! Didn’t even think about the genetic resistance. That would be awesome if it did factor in. Will I likely lose them all if they remain crowded? I’m guesstimating this growth to be about 15yrs or so.

Sole focus would be to maintain a healthy screening without taking too much out. Can’t afford to lose any trees on this property.


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[Stubborn1VT]

Man, great point! Didn’t even think about the genetic resistance. That would be awesome if it did factor in. Will I likely lose them all if they remain crowded? I’m guesstimating this growth to be about 15yrs or so.

Sole focus would be to maintain a healthy screening without taking too much out. Can’t afford to lose any trees on this property.


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I don't think overcrowding will threaten their health, only keep them from growing to their potential.
Cutting some would promote growth, mostly close to the ground.
The desired height of your screening will play a big role in how you approach the project.
Which way is the row oriented? Lots to consider.
You might even consider planting a second, separate row of screening just in case.
Cutting the largest trees might help keep the screen roughly the same size it is now.
If they seem healthy, you could just wait and see.

 

[buckdeer1]

What is killing them in Kansas is the drought. That said if you own both sides I would leave in a row and cut a gap ,maybe one or two trees wide by your stand.Then plant cedars 12ft out from elms and 12 ft apart.I you want solid screen quicker plant 2 rows staggered. I have been working on cutting about 10 elms but not in a row.I just let them get to big in a persimmion patch. Alot of work.If you want them gone leave the big one and get a dozer guy for 1 day

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

I don't think overcrowding will threaten their health, only keep them from growing to their potential.
Cutting some would promote growth, mostly close to the ground.
The desired height of your screening will play a big role in how you approach the project.
Which way is the row oriented? Lots to consider.
You might even consider planting a second, separate row of screening just in case.
Cutting the largest trees might help keep the screen roughly the same size it is now.
If they seem healthy, you could just wait and see.

I'd like to keep it about the same height as it is now keeping the lower/middle filled in in. It's running east to west. Maybe I will cut some of the biggest down a couple feet high? I'm not sure how Elm regenerates but sounds like it could be pretty good! Everything does seem healthy. Really no dead limbs in the entire line. It's pretty cool that this grew naturally with no planting in a straight row just due to brush hogging one side and cattle on the other.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

What is killing them in Kansas is the drought. That said if you own both sides I would leave in a row and cut a gap ,maybe one or two trees wide by your stand.Then plant cedars 12ft out from elms and 12 ft apart.I you want solid screen quicker plant 2 rows staggered. I have been working on cutting about 10 elms but not in a row.I just let them get to big in a persimmion patch. Alot of work.If you want them gone leave the big one and get a dozer guy for 1 day

Thanks, I'm trying to get a line on cedars to order but not had luck finding in stock options for bare root. Do you think they'll take off faster then Spruce? I have about 30 scattered around the property of various size that I can try and transplant.

 

[Stubborn1VT]

I'd like to keep it about the same height as it is now keeping the lower/middle filled in in. It's running east to west. Maybe I will cut some of the biggest down a couple feet high? I'm not sure how Elm regenerates but sounds like it could be pretty good! Everything does seem healthy. Really no dead limbs in the entire line. It's pretty cool that this grew naturally with no planting in a straight row just due to brush hogging one side and cattle on the other.

I imagine that anything you cut will fill in, both at ground level and at the top. That many stems are really competing for light, so they'll flex into any open space. I'm not sure if elm will stump sprout in those conditions. In my experience they aren't as likely to do so as maple or cherry.
Other than disease, elms are pretty tough.
I would take a close look at what is growing at ground level. That's what will take off if you free up some space. It sounds like cutting a few of the taller trees might thicken things up. Elm is a good candidate for hinge cutting as well. I would suggest doing that with 2 people.
It is cool to end up with a natural screen. Here's hoping your elms stay healthy!

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

I imagine that anything you cut will fill in, both at ground level and at the top. That many stems are really competing for light, so they'll flex into any open space. I'm not sure if elm will stump sprout in those conditions. In my experience they aren't as likely to do so as maple or cherry.
Other than disease, elms are pretty tough.
I would take a close look at what is growing at ground level. That's what will take off if you free up some space. It sounds like cutting a few of the taller trees might thicken things up. Elm is a good candidate for hinge cutting as well. I would suggest doing that with 2 people.
It is cool to end up with a natural screen. Here's hoping your elms stay healthy!

Thanks for the insight! I’ll put it to good use.


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[KY wild]

I don't know how well elm stump sprouts, if it stump sprouts well like poplar then every tree you cut down will very quickly fill in even better as a screen especially at deer eye level.