AusBonsai

Hi all

Just a simple question. i think it's simple
can a larch be completely defoliated?

John

I would have thought larch have naturally small foliage so why would you need to defoliate them ?
Craigw

Hi John, I have quite a a few Larch and I wouldn't have the faintest idea if they can be defoliated or not. On one hand, they are deciduous, so maybe. On the other hand they are from the Pine family, so perhaps not.

Good luck finding out

Mojo

Good question John
as a conifer I would say no, even though it is a deciduous conifer. None of the texts I have mention defoliating only cutting back to shoots or pinching out new growth similar to pine care.
Andrew

Simple answer:

I dont think it would be difficult to defoliate it at all. Just pull them off.

Catch: Will it live?

Joel

i know larch has small needles.

the reason i ask is simply because of the conifer and deciduous thing.
it got me thinking. that's all

just curious. if a larch can be defoliated. what is the out come? and if a larch can really be defoliated, what about cutting it back to bare stump? will it come back or will it die just like any conifer?

john

Hi John, I would be really surprised if they don't shoot back from a hard prune, I guess there is only one way to find out
Craigw

John,

With my one and only Japanese larch I have never noticed it back budding other than where there is an existing bud; ie no budding from bare wood.

It will get a second or third burst of growth during the growing season(like cedars if cut back) but I have never tried defoliation .

Grant