AusBonsai

Anyone defoliate baby tridents in early summer the first year of propagation?

I wouldn't do that to babies lol. The reason for defoliation on deciduous trees are to reduce leaf size, increase ramification and achieve better Autumn colour. This is usually carried out on more mature and healthy trees for reasons of asthetics
as mentioned. Is your logic that you are want to start early training? I would grow trunks out before I even thought of defoliating. Good question though deserving other points of view.

Ash

It's a trap Ash run
This is a master technique on seedlings. I have my doubts it is any use though and do have some questions about it.

soltan wrote:It's a trap Ash run
This is a master technique on seedlings. I have my doubts it is any use though and do have some questions about it.

Defoliating will stunt the growth of your seedlings for a bit. Why would you want to slow down the growth when they are still so small?
BB

soltan wrote:It's a trap Ash run
This is a master technique on seedlings. I have my doubts it is any use though and do have some questions about it.

O really??

Damn it.... Loaded question, I'll admit.
I wanted to try it this year but i kinda epic failed on the seeds.
Its suppose to start them off with smaller leaves and shorter nodes.

I have seen an article on this too Asus. My understanding that is once the trunk gets to a certain thickness then it can back bud anywere dispite the internode lenght so I have wonderd what real use this technique is?
We must re-write the rule on only defoliate on trees that you are refining though.

I accidentally did this "defoliation"!

With the really hot wind and temps we had in late jan early feb most of my seedling tridents (almost one year old) got defoliated! There has been no difference in the development/look between the defoliated trees and the ones not wind burnt!

However the ones planted before winter '08 are multiple times bigger than the ones planted after winter that had been stored in the fridge.

just my input?

Step ouside the square and break the rules ,if you have several seedlings try it with a couple and make the decision for yourself .My tool box consists of a Stihl 010 an axe and a pair of concave cutters ,my approach works on some and not on others .Cant beat personal experience .What rules .Cheers

If you would like shorter internodes on baby tridents (and who wouldn't), why not grow cuttings from hand picked shoots that already have short internodes. Tridents are very easy to strike, cuttings also give you the ability to select leaf shape and autumn colour in advance and in a lot of instances have definite advantages over seedlings in regards to with basal flare and taper.

MM