The dataset compared the impact of three experimental treatment (soil water deficit, defoliation and control) on budburst, leafing and leaf senescence of 1000 Fagus sylvatica saplings between 2014 and 2016. All trees were under a roof to totally exclude rain and one third were irrigated, one third were irrigated and defoliated once a year (75% in June 2014 and June 2015 and 90% in May 2016). The phenology was also followed in 2017 when all trees were irrigated.