Good afternoon,

I have a Chinese elm around 20 years old which I have owned for 7 years and kept outside for the last 6 years now as it seemed to thrive better outdoors. It is due a re pot but since the extended cold and wet winter we have had in the UK this year it has yet to bud and usually buy this time of year the buds are well broken, it also has a large spread of what looks like Lichen all over the branches and secondary branches. I have never seen or experienced this before and it makes me wonder if the tree has a disease??

Does anyone know what this is and how I can treat it? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Many thanks!

Joe

Lichen is fine, on an old tree it looks good and does no harm. Moss should be removed. My Chinese Elms are also not budding yet, I am guessing of course as there is no picture

My chinese elm kept in non heated greenhouses in sweden has just started budding. I think yours will start with the next heat wave.

Thanks for your reply! I did attach pics to the post but they obviously never uploaded. I have attached the to this reply

Thanks for the reply! This is good to know

There is a lot of Lichen, you could remove some but does no harm.

I am wondering about the red colored bark. Is this a different cultivar of chinese elm? All elms I have seen have Grey bark. Or maybe it is not a chinese elm?

Lichens can hamper backbudding. And in extreme forms, even regular spring budding. (This is not too bad yet).

I would consider using a soft brush to remove it, or spray a few times with diluted vinegar in winter (bare state)

Thanks for the reply m5eaygeoff I think i might remove some of it when I do the repot

Hi Tropfrog, the bark only seems to be a red colour when it's wet for some reason, when it's dry the bark is actually grey like you said. I have attached a pic of it after its last repot 5 years ago