AusBonsai

hey guys.
Is it right to defoliate a stressed out tree, for instance if the tree got a good dose of hot weather and most of the leaves have died of and are slowly falling?
To defoliate or to let the tree do its own thing and keep the water up to it in the process?

Cheer Pat

Hi Pat,

What kind of tree are we talking about?

I would maybe take a few of but not to many and put it in a more sheltered position. Don't water it to much as the tree won't be able to draw all the moisture up due to lesser leaves. Slowly start feeding it with a liquid fertiliser. If you see some new buds apperearing you can take a few more leaves of.

Good luck.

Chris

trident maple the tree is

thanks

Chris has given good advice. The only thing i would add is to pull of the crispy leaves.

Pat,

Trident maples bud back very quickly so just follow the instructions above.

Cheers,

Chris Sirre

To add to the topic, given that high summer is here, is now a good time to defoliate a healthy tree? I have a Quercus robusta and a Magnolia stellata I would like to reduce foliage on but if I remove the current batch it will leave tender new growth at the mercy of hot northerly weather.

I have been defoling mine with no repercussions. See my trident thread. I have also just defoled my Oak.

Pat093 wrote:hey guys.
Is it right to defoliate a stressed out tree, for instance if the tree got a good dose of hot weather and most of the leaves have died of and are slowly falling?
To defoliate or to let the tree do its own thing and keep the water up to it in the process?

Cheer Pat

Is it Right? The simple answer is that a tree will be happier healthier and grow faster if you do not defoliate after leaf burn.
Firstly any green left on the leaves that are burnt will still be producing energy for the tree. Secondly the burnt leaves will give some shade to some new growth the tree may like to put out after the stress.

But as always in Bonsai we may decide to push the tree and manage the consequences. We may do this because we want a fresh batch of healthy leaves to show the tree or we may believe that getting the tree to start over with a fresh set of leaves will be more productive to the development of the tree as bonsai for the season.
The second option is something that Don in Hay seems to be doing pretty good when refining trees.
But if the tree is only in the development stage I believe leaving it alone is the best option.