Siberian Elm Grows in Colorado
The Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) is a large hard-wood tree, growing up to 60 – 70 feet tall in urban areas all along Colorado’s front range. It has a heavy thick bark, upright branching, and sheds leaves that are less than two inches long. Siberian elms are brittle and their branches are prone to breakage. They grow like weeds and are highly invasive.
Not only do these trees grow rapidly, like weeds, they are toxic to other plants. Siberian Elms have structural problems, with many weak or dead branches that can break off in heavy wind. They have a short dormancy period which leads to early flowering in spring, and late leaf drop in fall.
Here in Colorado Siberian Elm trees can become dangerously loaded with wet snow during our common heavy spring snowstorms, or the occasional fall snowstorm. This leads to costly property damage when heavy branches break and fall on roofs and vehicles.
The Siberian Elm is one of, if not the, world’s worst trees…a poor ornamental that does not deserve to be planted anywhere. ~Dr. Michael Dirr
In Colorado’s high desert climate which is predominantly tree-less east of the Rocky Mountains, some say an invasive tree is better than no tree, especially in urban areas…
I say let’s mill them up into lumber and make more log furniture!
Milling Siberian Elm
When it comes time to milling Siberian Elm you can expect a remarkably hard, tough wood that has been made popular for things like tool handles, bows and baseball bats. Elm lumber is used most for furniture, cabinets, veneer and hardwood flooring, as well as specialty uses such as long bow construction and tool handles.
Now watch and see how to mill Colorado Grown Siberian Elm:
Contact us here if you have a Siberian Elm tree you want to mill into usable lumber: (719)428-5029