Bigger leaves after defoliation.

[vp999]

So… I defoliated my maple grove a few weeks ago and now some of the leaves are much bigger than before…. What’s going on? I noticed the same on several other species also like Chinese Quince. Thanks in advance.

Also, what kind of maple do I have here ? Thanks

 

[19Mateo83]

That looks like understock growing up through the grafts canopy. I’m assuming this is a grafted maple. Can you post pictures of the trunk and where the large leaved branch meets the trunk.

 

[vp999]

I can take a pic of the trunk tomorrow but I am 95% sure the maple is not grafted, as far as where the large leaved branch meets the trunk that won't be possible because I cut off all the larger leaves already lol.

 

[pandacular]

Are all the larger leaves on the ends of the new growth? I've noticed that the leaves that grow back on my Acer rubrum after a partial defoliation tend to have very large leaves on the outer sections but much smaller leaves within. Seems to be the tree reinforcing the parts doing the heavy lifting.

 

[vp999]

Are all the larger leaves on the ends of the new growth? I've noticed that the leaves that grow back on my Acer rubrum after a partial defoliation tend to have very large leaves on the outer sections but much smaller leaves within. Seems to be the tree reinforcing the parts doing the heavy lifting.

Yes....At the end, and only only on a few branches.

 

[pandacular]

in that case, sounds like you've got an easy fix a snip away. I don't think this is particularly abnormal, but I have less time in the game than you.

 

[Shibui]

Given the leaves look quite different from the rest of the tree it is also possible that branch is different from the main tree. Several possible reasons - root stock has sprouted; less likely a shoot has mutated or reverted. If the difference persists I would remove that branch right at the base and watch out for more that may emerge.

Defoliation is not a magic bullet for small leaves. JM in particular often respond to defoliation with large leaves. Smaller leaves seems to be a factor of more ramification. Each tree needs a certain area of solar panels (leaves) to operate. That can be a few large leaves or many smaller ones. The more twigs you have the more individual leaves there are and consequently each can be smaller.
Always work toward more ramification and the smaller leaves will follow.
Large leaves and long internodes can also be from a rush of growth. Normally, spring growth has large leaves. Trimming shoots and defoliating later in summer can result in shorter shoots and smaller leaves.
Abundant Nitrogen will also tend to result in long shoots and larger leaves. Reducing fert can help reduce leaf size. Obviously that will also reduce growth rates so if you are trying to thicken or otherwise grow a maple don't worry about large leaves. Smaller leaves will follow after the growing is done and you can concentrate more on ramification.

Not really possible to ID a cultivar for this JM. It may be a cutting from a named cultivar but with so many similar it isn't possible to accurately ID. If grown from seed then each seedling is a new and unique combination of genes so must therefore be a new and unique cultivar.

 

[vp999]

Thank you so much!

 

[namnhi]

So… I defoliated my maple grove a few weeks ago and now some of the leaves are much bigger than before…. What’s going on? I noticed the same on several other species also like Chinese Quince. Thanks in advance.

Also, what kind of maple do I have here ? Thanks
View attachment 498990

You have what we called Acer Palmatum or Green Japanese Maple. Pick the one you like.

 

[vp999]

The whole time I was leaning toward Kiyohime because the leaves stayed yellow and have red outline the whole summer.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

The whole time I was leaning toward Kiyohime because the leaves stayed yellow and have red outline the whole summer.

Almost all named varieties of J. maple are grafted as that really is the most effective way to commercially produce them unless you got some rooted cuttings from someone privately. You cannot reliably reproduce them from seed so grafting guarantees you get exactly the same foliage but growing in a very robust rootstock.

 

[pandacular]

You cannot reliably reproduce them from seed

this is why few seed growers will provide cultivars; it would be misleading to do so.

 

[vp999]

Thank you! I learned something today.

 

[roberthu]

Regarding leaf size, how have you been fertilizing this year? before and after the defoliation? Did you do a full defoliation or just partial? How did you fertilize last fall? Size of container? All these can impact JM leaf size.

 

[vp999]

I only had the tree for about 3 months, seems like the big green leaves came from the same branches that the other normal small leaves are from also. It’s a grove and all the trunks are connected and on the same root.

 

[BobbyLane]

Its quite common for trees to respond with larger leaves, especially if the tree wasnt very well ramified to begin with or had a well ramified or well developed root system. As we know, defoliation is a refinement technique. We can't really see your tree, im going to hazard a guess that its in development, in which case, I wouldnt be bothered much by large leaves at this point. When im heavily feeding and watering my trees in development, I dont mind seeing large leaves.


EDIT:
I see what you posted an image above. still cant really make out whats going on or what youre trying to do.

 

[SouthernMaple]

Its quite common for trees to respond with larger leaves, especially if the tree wasnt very well ramified to begin with or had a well ramified or well developed root system. As we know, defoliation is a refinement technique. We can't really see your tree, im going to hazard a guess that its in development, in which case, I wouldnt be bothered much by large leaves at this point. When im heavily feeding and watering my trees in development, I dont mind seeing large leaves.


EDIT:
I see what you posted an image above. still cant really make out whats going on or what youre trying to do.

he bought it 3 months ago , so I assume hes just trying to keep it alive.

 

[BobbyLane]

he bought it 3 months ago , so I assume hes just trying to keep it alive.

Defoliating a tree you dont even know the name of, isnt the best way to go about keeping a tree alive, but granted it does look healthy.

 

[BobbyLane]

I usually buy trees when they're naked, since I can see whats going on and what I want to do, but if I do buy over summer, and im confident its healthy/established. I'll often defoliate or partial defoliate, so that I can get a better look and then I might begin setting some structure or removing things I dont like. I dont mind defoliating trees in summer just to style them, because I love working on trees.
I didnt see a post defoliation shot of the tree naked in any of the posts, hence not understanding what was really going on. I'll leave ya'll to it anyway

 

[namnhi]

Do I see the picture of the tree correctly that the previous owner (creator) bend the tree into a U shape and make it a raft? A U-shaped raft?