Removing foliage in winter for deciduous trees

JohnSullivan

I have recently acquired a chinese elm from a friend, it is my first deciduous bonsai. Although most of its leaves have fallen off by now, there is still about 10% of the leaves remaining and they are a healthy green. I have heard that one should completely remove all foliage in the winter. Should I do so? Does the fact that I live in San Diego and our sunny climate here factor in at all? See picture of tree.

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TreeBay

Hi John,

Climate is definitely a factor with Chinese elm. During one particularly warm winter up here in Northern California, one of mine retained its leaves all winter. They fell when the new growth pushed them off in the spring.

In San Diego, you may find this tree behaves in a semi-deciduous way. It may keep some leaves all winter, "hedging" its chances. Be sure to keep checking and watering as needed so long as there are green leaves on the tree. If it should go fully dormant its water needs will decrease significantly.

Unless you get a some nighttime frost or extended periods in which the daytime temperature hangs in the 50s (F) or below, your tree may look like this all winter. You could certainly defoliate it, but the tree may have other ideas about how to spend the San Diego "winter"

By the way, it looks like you could air layer a nice [i:0b240bc299]shohin[/i:0b240bc299] (miniature size bonsai) using the top portion of the tree.

Regards,

Matt

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Bonsainut

Dear John
I am in your same general area(east county) and my elms look about the same. Yeasterday and today are really the first colder days we have had, and I'm still in shorts so I guess the rest of the world knows our secret, eh?
I defolate between Christmas and New years. But be ready because in 3-4 weeks you will have new leaves bursting, I always leave some time in Feb. to repot elms. Good luck!!!

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JohnSullivan

Thanks TreeBay & Bonsainut for your advice, I think I will let the tree keeps its leaves for now. I am planning on doing some major shaping and pruning in the spring to give this tree some real definition, at that time I will have to do something with the top of this tree, perhaps a shohin would be a good idea. Thanks again for your time, this is a really great resource for a beginner like me!

Bonsainut

Good luck with it John. Are you a SD Bonsai club member? Do you know we have one of the stongest clubs around right here in SD. Over 300 members.

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ripsgreentree

John: I am in central California, It looks to me like you have a wildling on your hands. Do some homework, aquire some good books with lots of photos, this will help you to choose the definition you wish to prune to. By the way you can do most anything with an elm and it will bud back for you. If you cut a root in the spring you will fine that you will have a new tree by fall. If you want a very short tree cut the tree at the hight that you want your branching to start at and you will get the buds that you want. Cut the limbs back as hard as you want and the buds will pop out in the sprring. I will qualify this by saying that we do this kind of work just as the buds start to swell in the early spring. Have fun and dont worrie to much you can get an elm to do just about anything if you give it good after care.

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ripsgreentree

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Bonsainut

Rips,
Good Advice. I met John at the San Diego Bonsai Club. He bought some tools and the Naka Tech. #1. He is going to take the beginners Class and... His Girlfrend 's father is a bonafied Bonsai master- a long time member of our club. You might say he is set up now when it comes to bonsai!!! Welcome John!!!

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Keep growing,---'Nut



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