Hi Tony,

Hard to say what the problem is from here, but it sounds like the branch has been hurt some way. Perhaps die back during the winter, or damage while wiring (if you've done that). About the only thing I can think of is for you to scratch the bark on the
branch and see if the cambium is green under it. I'd start as far out on the branch as you can and work my way toward the trunk. On my elms, when a branch dies like this I can usually see a difference in the dead bark and the healthy bark, but sometimes
it is difficult to tell. At least this way you'll know if you should still be hoping for the buds to break.
Just my .02.
Regards,
Shelly Hurd Central CA - Sunset Zone 8-USDA Zone 9

Tony from Oz, wrote:


Hi,

Location: Australia
Season: Midsummer

My chinese elm is in pretty good health though still in training.
But...there is one branch on my tree that hasn't, and doesn't look like
opening its buds. Buds on all other branches have opened, and I have pruned
the new growth back to one - two or three sets of leaves (once the new
growth had reached about 6-8 sets), depending on the location of the
branches.

The branches are about 3-4 millimetres in diameter, so it's not an old tree.

I have read the articles on the 'Evergreen Gardenworks' website to refresh
my memory on pruning and the basics of hormone pathways and can't pinpoint a
physiological reason why the buds won't break......

Any advice would be most appreciated.

Thanks

Tony Charles

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