AusBonsai

Does the lowest left hand branch cross over the one above it and then head to the back? Looks like that on the photo, but I'm not sure. At any rate, if it does, it has to go. It will only get worse with time, so I would do it now and start on a replacement branch if it's needed. I don't think that one can be salvaged.

Update:

I got sick of working with this tree as an individual, so it's now the central tree in this forest.

That's a nice looking forest!

Have you ever tried to reduce leaf size on trees that size? I have a smaller liquidambar which I've been able to get the leaves to about the size of a 5c piece, not sure if this viable with larger trees or worth the effort?

Nice one, added bonus bench space
Cheers
Kirku

NIce tree
well done and nice colour as well

TimIAm wrote: ↑April 21st, 2023, 6:19 pm That's a nice looking forest!

Have you ever tried to reduce leaf size on trees that size? I have a smaller liquidambar which I've been able to get the leaves to about the size of a 5c piece, not sure if this viable with larger trees or worth the effort?

What is your process / technique to get small leaves?

Ken

TimIAm wrote: ↑April 21st, 2023, 6:19 pm That's a nice looking forest!

Have you ever tried to reduce leaf size on trees that size? I have a smaller liquidambar which I've been able to get the leaves to about the size of a 5c piece, not sure if this viable with larger trees or worth the effort?

I'm finding leaf size tricky... could probably defoliate and manage fertiliser better, and put in a sunnier area...

Qitianlong wrote: ↑April 21st, 2023, 7:56 pm

TimIAm wrote: ↑April 21st, 2023, 6:19 pm That's a nice looking forest!

Have you ever tried to reduce leaf size on trees that size? I have a smaller liquidambar which I've been able to get the leaves to about the size of a 5c piece, not sure if this viable with larger trees or worth the effort?

I'm finding leaf size tricky... could probably defoliate and manage fertiliser better, and put in a sunnier area...

I cut all the buds just as they are about to open which forces new ones to develop back smaller, but interested to hear other methods

Ken

kcpoole wrote: ↑April 21st, 2023, 7:40 pm

TimIAm wrote: ↑April 21st, 2023, 6:19 pm That's a nice looking forest!

Have you ever tried to reduce leaf size on trees that size? I have a smaller liquidambar which I've been able to get the leaves to about the size of a 5c piece, not sure if this viable with larger trees or worth the effort?

What is your process / technique to get small leaves?

Ken

I wouldn't recommend this for everyone and it only works with certain species. I also suspect the Sydney climate with our long growing season plays a big role. For certain species I can fully defoliate and they bounce back within a couple of weeks. Some species I can fully defoliate multiple times in a growing season and not skip a beat. I have a crabapple that I defoliated 5 times this past growing season. In return I get plenty of back-budding, smaller leaf size and I haven't noticed any detrimental affect on the amount of ramification.

I wait until new growth has fully hardened off and the tree isn't putting out any new growth and there is presence of some new (albeit tiny) buds before defoliating again.

I don't have a good example because growth has dropped off and I won't do any full defoliation until new buds appear before spring.
This is mulberry leaf reduction compared to a regular tree. As growth has already started to slow, these leaves are already larger than what they would be throughout the growing season.

As leaves come out a different times/stages, I also remove larger older leaves to make room for smaller leaves underneath.

I'd love to share my liquidambar but I defoliated it 2 weeks ago and it's been slow to put out this next round of growth. We are still getting warm weather here, but I think it's slowing down. Many of the mature street trees are already red. I will remember to post a pic but it likely won't be until early spring.