Just_Mike

hard to see trunkline, but in my opinion i think you could accomplish alot with this tree just be experimenting with the planting angle...and about the rock...i find it distracting...ill take a closer look and post a more detailed proposition...

how big are you wanting this tree to eventually be?
looking at the proposed front...why remove right now what would appear to be a perfect sacrifice branch? if you want the tree to end up the height it is now, i would let that branch grow for some time to help with thickening the lower trunk...if you are satisfied with the trunk diameter then tghe tree needs to be shortened...after looking at this more carefully, if this was my tree i would choose pic #35278 and take a close look at tilting the tree to the left a bit...this would also help make the tree a bit shorter and give the trunk a more dynamic appearance...i would leave the back brach as a sacrifice branch for atleast 2 more years...letting it grow freely while keeping the rest in shape and creating some nice ramification...just some thoughts

...Mike