American elm

The American elm (Ulmus americana 'Valley Forge') should be watered deeply once or twice a week. When watering, water at the base of the tree and make sure to saturate the root system. Do not water the leaves directly or allow standing water as this can cause problems such as leaf burn and fungal diseases. During warmer, dry spells, you may need to increase the amount of water to ensure that the soil remains moist. It's always best to test the soil around the root zone to make sure that it is damp before adding more water. In the winter, water less frequently but still make sure that the soil is not completely dry.

American elm (Ulmus americana 'Valley Forge') prefers to grow in full to partial sun. It should receive 5 to 8 hours of direct sunlight a day. In hot climates, the tree should have partial shade in the afternoon to avoid sunburn. If grown in partial shade, the tree will need to have more frequent irrigation to keep the soil moist.

For a healthy American elm (Ulmus americana 'Valley Forge'), pruning should be done once a year in late winter or early spring. Prune for size, shape and safety. Care should be taken to remove damaged, diseased or dead branches. Depending on the size of the tree, proper pruning may require cutting branches as tall as the first scaffold branch. Large scaffold branches should be removed no more than 25% of their size, and no more than 25% of the tree should be pruned in any single growing season. After each pruning, remove any small twigs and suckers that are not part of the desired design. This will ensure a healthy, well-shaped tree.