Anybody defoliated yet?

[Graeme]

Nup, not my mob mate, thats the club that comes from out your way. I spent yesterday at the High School Swap Meet, so am a tad sun effected today. Plus spent a heap of last night at the Boat Club Rock and Roll dancing so just a little off weather this morning. Speaking of which I need to get a quieter key board, this one is soooo loud today
Hey, it's not only the trees effected by the weather

[Jamie]

yea I spent a lot of yesterday and the day before mowing, only had a singlet and shorts on... bad move lol, didnt think the little bit of time would be enough to rip into my skin, ahwell.

[Graeme]

You mow your Bonsai????
Hows the move going? Got a place?

[Jamie]

You mow your Bonsai????
Hows the move going? Got a place?

only when they dont do what I want or a see a potentially distroted trunk that needs some shari work

got a couple of place to check out, need to get some paper work sorted then we will get moving, found a perfect place out at booral

jamie

[Grant Bowie]

Hi all,

Although it is early in the season in Canberra (English elm and Beech not even in leaf yet and Zelkova almost) we had a compulsory early defoliation this year.

On the 22nd of August I picked up an Ash from Don Delucca (who lives in Hay) and the tree was already in full growth; whereas back in Canberra everything was still dormant. Anyhow we defoliated the tree on the day (to avoid possible cold/frost damage) and just five weeks later it has already burst into growth and been trimmed once already.

We will defoliate again around the 18th or 19th of October and then again a few times more this season.

Grant

[tex048]

Hi Grant

How do you go about defoliating an Ash?

I mean with its compact leaves - Do you remove each indiviual leaf on the compund stalk or just remove the entire stalk and leaves together?


Thanks

Tex

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Tex,

Yes the Ash has a compound leaf and as with any other leaf you cut the stalk off close to the branch but not too close that could damage a bud that might emerge.

You can trim an Ash (for look) by cutting part of the leaf but this will not encourage it to bud back or put out smaller leaves. ( well mostly anyhow but not as well)


Here is a link to a thread on my Ash
viewtopic.php?f=129&t=4827

Here is a link to a thread about leaf reduction on Ash
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8119

Grant

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

Back to the defoliation thread.

We usually defoliate our Japanese maples just once a year here at the collection; say mid December.

We repotted both a single tree and a group this year and they are positively bursting with health so I am going to defoliate early; say early November and if all goes well I will defoliate again in late December.

This should help get leaf size down, stimulate internal growth and buds and help ramification.

I will post as we go.

Grant

[kcpoole]

Have not totally defoliated yet, but have taken off many larger leaves on Liquidambar, Trident Maple, Hibiscus, numerous figs as well.
I do this continually thru the spring / summer

Ken

[FatMingsBonsai]

Yep, did it to my maple and trident will be very soon as the weather warms slightly, it's still fresh in Melbourne at the moment. Late Nov for this year with the Trident for me I think...

I prep them with liquid ferts for 2 to 4 weeks before, and always when they look full of vigour
Anybody defoliated an elm?? lol

Enjoy your trees and appreciate them all...

Peace,

Han.

[Grant Bowie]

Yep, did it to my maple and trident will be very soon as the weather warms slightly, it's still fresh in Melbourne at the moment. Late Nov for this year with the Trident for me I think...

I prep them with liquid ferts for 2 to 4 weeks before, and always when they look full of vigour
Anybody defoliated an elm?? lol

Enjoy your trees and appreciate them all...

Peace,

Han.

Anyone defoliated an Elm? YES.

Check out tbhis thread on an english elm.viewtopic.php?f=129&t=6633&hilit=English+elm&start=15

Grant

[FatMingsBonsai]

@ Grant lol
Should have known before asking the silling question lolz

Did you notice any variance in leaf size after defoliating the elm ??

Peace,

Han.

[Grant Bowie]

@ Grant lol
Should have known before asking the silling question lolz

Did you notice any variance in leaf size after defoliating the elm ??

Peace,

Han.

Not really, the leaf on that particular one was already small but it did allow us to trim it back and activate internal buds etc.

The owner had defoliated regularly once a year for many years to get that ramification and hence the small leaf so i would credit defoliation with some overall leaf reduction.

Grant

[Sean M]

When you guys defoliate do you pluck or cut? Or is just a preference for either?

[FatMingsBonsai]

Hey Sean,

Preference is to cut for my trees, but say if it's a maple where the stalk is much longer and softer than an elm, I will pluck and pinch for something different to do
Basically, if it's too tough to pinch then I will cut it...hope that helps