Deciduous plants haven't lost leaves?

[alexm]

I have a few deciduous plants in Sydney (e.g. liquidambar and chinese elm) that have just changed colour but haven't lost their leaves this year. Should I defoliate them before Spring?

20240813_111246_compress79.jpg

[legoman_iac]

I have a few maples (trident and japanese) still holding on to their leaves ... I'm leafing mine alone. Figure they'll drop when ready. No harm keeping them in, I don't think

[shibui]

Plants seem to know what to do, probably better than us anyway.
Some trees hold leaves through winter but they fall as the new leaves emerge in spring. Oaks tend to hold the old leaves long into winter. Chinese elms are another that is semi-deciduous. In cold places the leaves drop at the start of winter. In warmer areas the trees hold green leaves through till spring. As the new leaves open the old ones drop off.

The coloured leaves are probably not producing food so leaving them or defoliating is not likely to make any difference to the trees.

[legoman_iac]

I was inspired to share my leaves ... my "hanger on-ers" here, as Shibui points out ... Oaks a common one:

20240814_lowres.jpg

[alexm]

Thanks all for the replies. I'll just enjoy all the colours while the last. I did notice my oak was holding on to its leaves until last week so thought it was unusual the liquidambar had only just changed colours.