Should I defoliate my oak?

[Mike Corazzi]

Very few leaves have fallen so far.
30 nights and 60 days.
The leaves appear to still be functional although who knows how effectively?
I'm considering clipping at the petioles but maybe it's still working.

What think?
Cut or wait?

 

[_#1_]

Can I ask why would you want to defoliate? For what purpose/gain??

 

[Mike Corazzi]

None I suppose. Just asking.

 

[0soyoung]

Leave(s) [sic] them until spring - it will help with getting new leaves a bit sooner.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

Will do. I was just wondering why it isn't acting like the big ones.

 

[Potawatomi13]

As long as present will continue to feed roots/build strength.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

I guess .... I .... could use some leaves.

 

[AlainK]

"Oak" is too vague.

Here, in a temperate climate, most local species keep their leaves, even when brown, when young. Old leaves are dropped when new ones bud out.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcescence

What kind of Quercus species are you talking about ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Quercus_species

Er...

Oak ? OK, but which one ?

 

[Mike Corazzi]

I think it's robur but it's from a nursery starter so not sure.
??

I have an oak in the yard I'm also not sure of but you can't even RIP the brown leaves off until spring. It's so green that it looks like Japanese maple in summer.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I did some clipping on a young quercus robur this summer, and it responded with foliage twice the size. Yes, bigger than ever before.
They're notoriously late with dropping their leaves (if they do it at all before next spring).

 

[defra]

Let nature do its thing is my sugestion
I got three small oaks in the ground one keeps the brown foliage on till budbreak zbd the other two drop them
One of three also still got leaves on green starting to yellow a little bit now

 

[Mike Corazzi]

I did some clipping on a young quercus robur this summer, and it responded with foliage twice the size. Yes, bigger than ever before.
They're notoriously late with dropping their leaves (if they do it at all before next spring).

My summer clip reduced the size. Mostly. Sure made it hardy.
This tree is a real grower. From 2" to 13" in a year and a half.

 

[BobbyLane]

I did some clipping on a young quercus robur this summer, and it responded with foliage twice the size. Yes, bigger than ever before.
They're notoriously late with dropping their leaves (if they do it at all before next spring).

yes this is quite normal. they will reduce in size through defoliation though and im told, removing the large bud in spring before bud break, will produce smaller leaves and tight ramification closer to the trunk. this should be done every season. (not the defoliation. removing the large bud)

 

[EPM]

My summer clip reduced the size. Mostly. Sure made it hardy.
This tree is a real grower. From 2" to 13" in a year and a half.
View attachment 219792

Looks like you've got a nice start. I've got some Q. robur seedlings I'm working on as well. Mine still have all their leaves, although they are brown. What are you using for soil and fertilizer? When do you repot/do root work for this tree?

 

[Mike Corazzi]

Looks like you've got a nice start. I've got some Q. robur seedlings I'm working on as well. Mine still have all their leaves, although they are brown. What are you using for soil and fertilizer? When do you repot/do root work for this tree?

It's very young. This year was the first repot from the 3 inch starter can. I had it in a deeper but much same surface area pot to give it room.
I got about 4 to 5 feet of roots off.
Present pot gave shallower but wider spread room. This year, I'll compact the pot size but add some depth. And raise the root level to partially expose the tops of the roots to air.
I'm using an organic fert that I get from my Wed. bonsai workshop. It's black but that's all I know about it. When I'm using Miracle Grow on anything, I splash the leaves with it. Some runs into the soil.