Summer Defoliation Continues

Here are 2 more shohin trees that were partially defoliated today

Acer Shishigashira before

Acer Shishigashira after

Zelkova Serrata before

Zelkova Serrata after

 

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Pinus Parviflora Shohin

Today I have been working on this shohin white pine that I am looking after for a friend. It has good taper and interesting movement in the trunk and main branch. It also looks good from both sides, which is quite unusual in a young tree.. With a few years more growth it should make a terrific little shohin bonsai. I wish I could keep it.

Defoliating Deciduous Bonsai

The process of defoliation is an essential technique in the development of deciduous bonsai. It allows light into the interior of the tree, which encourages back budding resulting in denser ramification of the branches. The second flush of new leaves that are produced as a result of defoliation are normally much smaller than the first flush.

Trees can be either fully defoliated or partially defoliated. It is a stressful process for a tree to have all or most of its leaves removed during the growing season and it should only be carried out when you are sure that the tree is strong and healthy. Full defoliation is the more stressful of the two. It’s a useful technique to use on a finished tree, when you are thinking of putting it into a show and you want the leaves to look as small and as fresh as possible. Partial defoliation is less risky and is the ideal option for tress in development.

Here are some trees that I have partially defoliated today.

Trident Maple before

Trident Maple after

Small Trident over Rock before

Small Trident over Rock after

Kiyohime Maple before

Kiyohome Maple after

Deshojo Maple before

Deshojo Maple after

Small Deshojo before

Small Deshojo after