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How to remove leaves from deciduous bonsai

November 22, 2013 by Jonas Dupuich

There are a number of ways to remove old leaves from deciduous bonsai. Depending on the variety, branch age or density and how dry the leaves are, I’ll use a combination of fingers, tweezers and my whole hand.

The first two examples below are from a Japanese beech. Beech leaves don’t always fall off on their own so I tend to help them along to ensure the interior buds get plenty of light during winter. As beech leaf buds are relatively large and delicate, I pull leaves away from the buds to avoid breaking them.

Removing beech leaves

Pulling a beech leaf away from the bud

Removing beech leaves

Leaf removed

When the leaves are hard to get due to branch density or on the dry side, I’ll use tweezers as I can remove leaves quickly with them. The same rule of pulling leaves away from the buds applies.

Removing beech leaves

Gotcha – gripping a beech leaf with tweezers

Removing beech leaves

Leaf removed

As my beech bonsai are young, removing the old leaves went quickly.

Removing beech leaves

Before clean-up

Removing beech leaves

After clean-up

My favorite technique for removing old leaves is better suited for landscape trees. As Japanese maple leaves can be removed by pulling in the direction the branch is growing, running my fingers along the branch is a great way to remove leaves quickly.

Removing maple leaves

Lightly pinching a young branch

Removing maple leaves

Drawing my fingers along the length of the branch

Removing maple leaves

Handful of leaves

Removing maple leaves

Leaves removed

As you can see from the photo below, many of the branches on this maple are young and vigorous. I removed the leaves on these branches with my hands. For the more delicate branches near the apex, I removed the old leaves with tweezers.

Removing maple leaves

Japanese maple

Removing maple leaves

After removing almost all of the old leaves

Removing maple leaves

Removing the last few leaves

At some point this winter I’ll take another peek at this air layer to see how it’s doing.

✕

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Filed Under: Bonsai Care Tagged With: Japanese maple

Previous Post: « Removing leaves from deciduous bonsai
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Daniel Dolan says

    November 22, 2013 at 1:32 pm

    Jonas:

    Great photo series on Smugmug…….its very helpful to click on the information link, “i” ,and get the dates you performed the various tasks.

    Perhaps you commented on this in past postings, but after your picture perfect initial layering there were no roots? Did you ever get a feeling for what happened?

    Curious also what your plans are for tis tree having just cut off the top.

    Best regards,

    D/D
    Chicago

  2. Jonas Dupuich says

    November 22, 2013 at 1:37 pm

    Hi Daniel – I think the vigor of the tree and the season the layer is made makes a big difference as to when roots develop. As for the trunk below the layer I have ideas, but no final decisions yet. I’ll know more (and post the results) this winter.

  3. Clarence SMITH says

    November 22, 2013 at 6:14 pm

    I thought air layering is best done after the leaves come out in late spring or early summer. Am I wrong?

    Clarence

    >

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      November 22, 2013 at 6:34 pm

      Hi Clarence – those are good times to make air layers, but there is some flexibility and some varieties are more picky than others.

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