I have a Chinese Elm, in South Florida (10b climate zone), where there is hardly ever enough cold temps to allow my tree to drop leaves substantially. I notice all through spring and summer it doesn’t throw much of anything out as far as new growth, very little. It seems it drops more leaves than it replaces.. In all, it struggles along all year long without major activity.

I read somewhere that for these hot climate zones, a full defoliation is recommended if climate doesn’t assist naturally. With 10b climate in mind specifically, is this true and would this be advisable? If so, what time(s) of the year? Thanks.