mgodbee

excellent advice Vance, really that is how I have always thought of it too. I am not one to weaken my trees too much if I don't have to. I have defoliated or partially defoliated to try to get a branch to sprout though. This is the Retusa I mentioned above. After consulting witht the Ficus master, Jerry M, he said that was my best bet. Unfortunately the spot I wanted a branch did not ever sprout one (sigh!), but I noticed incredible ramification when it grew back. I plan to try to graft a branch there this summer. Oddly enough though, it seemed my leaves can back bigger, but that my be an overwatering issue. I partially defoliate the lower branches of my azaleas all the time though to keep them in check. I used to believe like most and I concluded what you did, not by reading, but by observation.