American Elm Trees for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on February 16, 2022

Planting instructions

American elms are large trees with extensive root systems and branch spread, so site your tree well away from structures, sidewalks, and roadways. A mature elm can have a canopy that is 70 feet wide, so give your sapling some space to grow. They are tolerant of a range of soil types, but plant them where they will be able to drain well.

Dig a hole that’s a little deeper than the root ball and twice as wide. Unpot the sapling, and tease out any roots that are encircling the root ball. Throw a shovel-full of well-rotted manure or compost in the hole and place the tree there. Fill in around it with topsoil that’s been mixed with manure or compost, and tamp down as you fill to eliminate air pockets.

Once planted, water thoroughly until water starts to pool around the root zone. Add an organic mulch, such as bark chips, to conserve moisture. Water every few days until the sapling is well-established.

Watering and nutrients

Young American elms should receive about an inch of water a week, either from rain or supplemental watering. You want the soil to be moist but not soggy. Once the elm is established and growing well, you can taper back on supplemental watering until you are just watering it during very dry, drought-like conditions.

In the spring after your tree’s first year, fertilize with a balanced product intended for use by landscape plants. You can also add a layer of compost around the root zone to give added nutrients to your tree. When fully grown, the tree doesn’t need supplemental fertilizer, although a light application in spring won’t hurt it.

Pruning

Check your growing American elm regularly for dead, broken, or diseased branches, and remove them when you see them. Other than that, the tree will naturally grow to a pleasing shape and needs no supplemental pruning.

Pests, diseases, and animals

DED hasn’t been eradicated, although newer varieties of American elm are resistant. But it pays to monitor your tree carefully. DED can be pruned out if caught early enough. It’s caused by a fungal pathogen and spread by elm bark beetles. Look for leaves that have turned yellow out of season or that are wilted and brown. If you peel the bark off an infected branch, you will see brown streaking on the wood. Symptoms often appear in spring or early summer. If you notice them, contact an arborist immediately, as they can recommend mitigation tactics to save your tree.

Other pests include elm leaf beetle, elm leaf miner, and several caterpillars, but generally a healthy tree can withstand some insect pressure. Young trees may also be susceptible to browsing by deer and, in the north, moose. If these ungulates are a problem in your region, you may want to fence in your American elm while it is young.

Achieving maximum results

Although monitoring your tree for DED is an element that adds to the care of the American elm, in general, they are easy keepers and not particular about where or how they’re grown. The key with an American elm is to get it started properly, giving it an optimal, open location and providing adequate water and food during the first few years of its life. DED shouldn’t scare you off. At one time, yes, it was a terminal diagnosis for the American elm. But the tree of today has been bred to fight back against this disease, and if you keep an eye on your elm during its formative years, you should be able to avoid DED entirely. If you do that, your American elm will reward you with beauty and shade for the rest of your life.

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