Someone asked the other day how do you reduce leaf size. Well without even trying I did it. Some time ago I bought 2 Ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior). They were the same size, both root bound and both had same size leaves. I cut one back quite hard and then choose a leader which I let grow. I chopped the new leader several times and also removed all branches several times back to just stems. I believe I also chopped the main trunk a second time as I damaged the main leader and chose to start again with it.
The second tree I waited till the first one had reshot and grown a bit to get some idea how it would respond then I gave the 2nd tree a trunk chop as well, quite a few months later though.
Well I was watering yesterday and I noticed with the two trees how much difference there was in the leaf size. Now I have made no attempt so far to reduce the leaf size so this was quite inspiring to me. I know this isn't anything special but to a relative newbie and this is the first tree I have actually seen the leaf reduce on I was quite excited.
Josh
leaf reduction on my Ash(Fraxinus excelsior)
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Josh
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leaf reduction on my Ash(Fraxinus excelsior)
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shibui
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Re: leaf reduction on my Ash(Fraxinus excelsior)
I think several chops will equal more growing points (tips) and more leaves - that is the main factor in smaller leaves. Defoliation is just one way of getting there. More regular pinching (or pruning as you have done) is a far better way.The one on the right has had several chops which would equate to defoliation I guess
Maybe you could do a quick count of the number of growing tips and leaves on each of these trees and let us know Josh.
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Josh
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 1518
- Joined: January 9th, 2012, 9:28 pm
- Favorite Species: pines
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Re: leaf reduction on my Ash(Fraxinus excelsior)
You are spot onshibui wrote:I think several chops will equal more growing points (tips) and more leaves - that is the main factor in smaller leaves. Defoliation is just one way of getting there. More regular pinching (or pruning as you have done) is a far better way.The one on the right has had several chops which would equate to defoliation I guess
Maybe you could do a quick count of the number of growing tips and leaves on each of these trees and let us know Josh.
the tree with only one chop has 4 branches coming off with only a few branchlets on each. The other has around 10 main branches and each has 6-10 branchlets on them. So the tree with multiple chops has way more branches than the other as you said. Good call and that one. I love watching the way trees grow and develop. Sometimes I think it's good to have a practice tree to just hack apart and watch how it responds to various methods.
Thanks
Josh
