AusBonsai

I decided this tree could do with defoliation. Some leaves were a little burnt and all leaves were too big for such a little tree. Perhaps I should have done it earlier but its not going to be shown this year so I left the leaves to build up strength. Some small leaves have been left on weaker inner branches to encourage growth and strength.
This tree is grafted from the first branch up.
It originally had a nice lower curve but was very straight above. I tried all the techniques to get shoots near the top of the curve but it refused to cooperate so I grafted a new shoot at the top of the curve so I could grow a new apex. When I removed the rest of the tree a bud finally emerged that became the first branch.

Hi Shibui , that's a very nice little Japanese maple .Mine tend to lack movement although i guess if you put the foot work in you get the results .Cheers

Nice little palmatum shibui.
It's probably not too late in the year to defoliate, Yackandanda will be warm well into April!!

Cheers
Mojo Moyogi