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Old 17-Feb-2007   #6
Joanie
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Join Date: Feb-2005
Location: Carlsbad, California..coastal desert
Country: United States
Posts: 5,445
Defoliation is useful on a tree that is already trained. When you defoliate a tree, you slow down it's growth. So if you are trying to grow the tree out, to get a bigger trunk or better branches, you should not defoliate.

Benjaminas aren't keen on having all of their leaves removed.... it's more risky than doing it on some other ficus. Other trees are much better about defoliation, such as maples.

Joanie
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