I have both Ulmus elegantissia and parvifloria and how do you
defoliate those tiny little
leafs. Any handy tips would be appreciated.

I don't find the species "elegantissia" but that may not mean
anything. It may also be a cultivar or varietal name of U.
parvifolia.

Why, if the leaves are already "tiny" do you feel the need to
defoliate?

At any rate, I have a variety of U. parvifolia that has leaves
that sometimes aren't quite "tiny" (at least not for the size
tree _I_ grow) and I just pull the too-large ones STRAIGHT off.
Don't twist or tear them off. Pull straight away from the branch
or trunk. That way you do less (hopefully, no) damage to the
dormant buds that lurk at the base of the leaf. If your hand is
REAL steady (mine isn't), you can take some small SHARP scissors
and snip the leaves, letting the tiny petiole remain on the tree.
You really need to get all of the leaf, however.

Generally, though, for these trees, you develop ramification by
religiously keeping new growth pinched back to two or even one
pair of leaves. Elms can get ahead of you quite easily.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Growing
desperate: Pleeeaaassseee . . .DO NOT USE AN APOSTROPHE TO MAKE
A PLURAL!!!!!!!!!!!!

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