CScott

I have a black oak and an English oak. Instead of defoliating I cut back all the large leaves and apical leaves by two thirds. If you have lots of time you can cut the leaf with lobes so it looks more like an oak leaf, but I'm usually too lazy or get overwhelmed by so many leaves. I haven't tried it the same year the tree is repotted. The year I defoliate the new leaves were smaller but the following year they were as large as ever. The advantage I have found in defoliating is that the tree back buds beautifully. The photo is my black oak that is getting too gangly and was losing branches right and left. After defoliating by trimming leaves it has put out new sprouts from the trunk to work with.

This all may be overly cautious, but it is hot where I live (110 degrees today), and I don't want to push my luck.

Carmen

Attached Images

	Black-oak-2005.jpg (62.6 KB, 136 views)
	Oak-defoliation.jpg (65.3 KB, 162 views)