Yup, that twin leader situation was the first thing I saw. Super-tight crotch is a sure fire future failure point.

Very helpful demonstration. Well explained.

I would love to see this tree now after it's leafed out

I bought saplings that have been with me 1 full year and all 4 grew into a "Y". They are not quite an inch in diameter. Am I correct that in Feb or March (Zone5) I should decide which side to prune away? Will the side I choose to keep straighten up over time? I could believe how fast they grew. Both limbs of the "Y" are so long they are arching rather than growing straight up.

@harrisonmcpheeinc.9180

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Hi Empty Nest Gardens, With the young whips or saplings you are describing - A late winter pruning to select a central leader sounds great. Select which one to retain as the leader and prune the other back to its parent stem or subordinate it by heading it back to a node. Subordinating would be chosen if you wanted to retain it as a side branch for now. Keep in mind that at this stage...side branches are likely all temporary branches and will eventually phase out. The selected central leader can be affixed to a wooden stake or dowel and tied to maintain a straighter trunk. Will it correct orientation on its own? It all depends on the plant's environment in relation to the orientation, intensity and duration of light exposure during the day. At this stage and for many years into the future, a bit of staking is perfectly fine and generally common practice. Just be cautious not to leave any attachments affixing the dowel to the trunk for more than a growing season to avoid potential for girdling.

Dope demo. But my man looks like Teddy from the show Snowfall.

Can you prune the top to keep them small? Many thanks.