Now is a great time to remove any foliage that’s still clinging to your deciduous bonsai. While deciduous leaves typically fall off on their own, not all varieties let go so easily. If you still see leaves on your deciduous bonsai – and you live in the northern hemisphere – it’s time for the leaves to come off.
Korean hornbeam
After removing the leaves
Removing leaves helps trees get a proper dormancy and reduces hiding places for insects. It also lets us to look closely at branches we may not have seen since last winter. Is the ramification better than it was last year? Is it worse? About the same? By inspecting the year’s growth I can see how the tree did and make notes about what I can do better next year.
Japanese maple
After removing the leaves
For details about leaf-plucking techniques and a look at this maple from last year, see “How to remove leaves from deciduous bonsai.”
