[IBC] Pruning a japanese maple

Patrick Free

I've heard that you should trim all the leaves off in spring, to
encourage smaller leaf regrowth. Is that correct? Is it too late to do
that now (live in Austin, TX)?

Thanks!

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Jim Lewis

> I've heard that you should trim all the leaves off in spring,
to
> encourage smaller leaf regrowth. Is that correct? Is it too
late to do
> that now (live in Austin, TX)?
>
>
Spring is too early. Do it in spring and the leaves that grow
back are likely to be *larger* than the ones you cut off.

Foliage should have completely hardened off before leaf trimming.
When you trim, leave at least 1/2 of the petiole (leaf stem) on
the tree.

There is absolutely no point in doing much leaf trimming until
your tree is pretty far along in its life as a bonsai. Big
leaves don't bother a tree under development, and since you don't
NEED smaller leaves then there's no point in stressing the tree.

And leaf trimming DOES stress the tree! Don't do it unless your
tree is VERY healthy.

Jim Lewis - jklewis@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.

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TreeBay

Hi Patrick,

Defoliation can offer more benefits than just minimizing leaf size. It can help improve ramification and allow light to penetrate to the interior of the tree to help promote backbudding and ensure the continued health of weaker, interior branching, an area which you might choose not to defoliate at all.

This site has a good description of maple defoliation.

http://www.cincinnatibonsai.com/new...ch2002page1.htm

I have seen the caution concerning leaving part of the petiole but haven't seen the reasoning. Maybe Jim Lewis knows? I can see it might help avoid trauma or delay the re-foliation by a week or two, but to tell you the truth, I have cut leaves and I have stripped them, but I have never really seen any significant difference. Of course, I could be overlooking the obvious!

Regards,

Matt

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Craig Cowing

TreeBay wrote:

> Hi Patrick,
>
> <snip>
>
> I have seen the caution concerning leaving part of the petiole but
> haven't seen the reasoning. Maybe Jim Lewis knows? I can see it might
> help avoid trauma or delay the re-foliation by a week or two, but to
> tell you the truth, I have cut leaves and I have stripped them, but I
> have never really seen any significant difference. Of course, I could
> be overlooking the obvious!
>
> Regards,
>
> Matt
>

Matt:
I'm not an expert, but the reasoning as I've understood it is to protect the bud at
the base of the leaf. I've actually damaged buds by simply removing a leaf, petiole
and all.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

>
> --
> TreeBay - Tips:5¢ Advice:Free
>

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Thomas_J.

This is exactly the reason why it's done this way. Thanks for posting Craig.

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Thomas J.

Jim Lewis

>
> I have seen the caution concerning leaving part of the petiole
but
> haven't seen the reasoning.

If you cut or pull the petiole off you risk damage to the paired
leaf buds which are immediately beside the base of the petiole.
It is these paired buds (and others) that you want to break out
into new leaves.

By removing the leaf and leaving the at least part of the
petiole, you "fool" the tree into thinking it is fall, the
petiole withers and the emerging buds PUSH it off.

For aesthetic reasons, you might cut all but a stub of the
petiole off, but aesthetics should play a small role at this
stage of work on a tree.

Jim Lewis - jklewis@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
************************************************** ******************************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

Ralph

Hey Patrick,
I am in Dallas and was advised by club members against leaf defoliation on japanese maple because of our intense summers.
You being considerably South of me may wish to consult with club members in your area before performing this.

__________________
Emerging from winter slumber
Bonsai trees burst buds anew
Spring is upon us!


-Paul S.

Jim Lewis

> Hey Patrick,
> I am in Dallas and was advised by club members against leaf
defoliation
> on japanese maple because of our intense summers.
> You being considerably South of me may wish to consult with
club
> members in your area before performing this.

That may be a good point, but we routinely defoliate here, and
the only real difference in our climates may be the humidity.

I certainly would keep the tree in shade after the operation.
And misting wouldn't hurt, either/

Jim Lewis - jklewis@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
************************************************** ******************************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

Theo

Craig Cowing wrote:


>>I have seen the caution concerning leaving part of the petiole but
>>haven't seen the reasoning. Maybe Jim Lewis knows? I can see it might
>>help avoid trauma or delay the re-foliation by a week or two, but to
>>tell you the truth, I have cut leaves and I have stripped them, but I
>>have never really seen any significant difference. Of course, I could
>>be overlooking the obvious!

it is so
the half stem will wither and fall soon after
tearing might damage the dorment bud in the leave pit
but on zelkovas you can tear as the leave is directly attached to the
branch..
as usual there is an exception


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