After fifteen years of branch development, my Korean hornbeam has slowed down considerably. When I started working on the branches, I’d often see new shoots with ten-to-twenty new leaves all over the tree. Now I can expect between two-to-five new leaves on all but the strongest branches.
![Korean hornbeam bonsai](https://bonsaitonight.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Korean-hornbeam.jpg)
Korean hornbeam
This slowed growth rate simplifies spring maintenance. To keep the interior shoots healthy, I pluck the leaves growing on the outside branches and the large leaves in the tree’s interior.
I pluck most of the leaves with my fingers and use tweezers for leaves I can’t reach with my hands.
![Top third of the tree has been defoliated](https://bonsaitonight.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Top-third.jpg)
After partially defoliating the top third
![All branches but one have been partially defoliated](https://bonsaitonight.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Two-thirds.jpg)
One branch to go
The main challenge with this work is taking caution to not pull too many leaves from weak branches. When I slow down a bit, I find it’s easy to remove the right leaves and leave adequate foliage behind.
I also try to leave more leaves on the lower branches. These branches are usually weaker than the upper branches so I preserve about twice as many leaves as I’d remove from the top of the tree.
![Left side of the tree showing more leaves on the bottom branch](https://bonsaitonight.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Left-side.jpg)
Leaving more leaves on the bottom branch
I do a little pruning at this time to shorten internodes longer than 1/4″ and to remove shoots growing from the trunk. I’ll thin the branches in fall when the tree starts to go dormant.
![Partial defoliation complete](https://bonsaitonight.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/After-defoliation.jpg)
Partial defoliation complete – 17″
I’ve fertilized the tree lightly this spring, but will hold off for about a month before I start again. I’ll continue fertilizing the tree until the leaves come off in fall.
Related Posts
- Korean hornbeam display at Taikan-ten
- Ten-year progression of a Korean hornbeam (the history of this tree)
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