rockm

"It was suggested to me the other day by a club member that I Cut back those leaders to slow the engery of the tree going to the top so that it would help in developing the trunk to a larger size."

"The longer and thicker these lower branches are, the thicker the trunk gets to support them. If you don't cut the top back all you will get is a very tall, relativly thin pole."


Both statements are inaccurate or outright wrong. The more growth the tree has anywhere on the trunk will thicken the trunk. Letting the leader grow will thicken the trunk. Severing it will slow the trunk down. Simple as that. Unrestricted growth=thicker trunk.

At this point, you have to decide WHERE you want growth. Growing trees in the ground usually is done to thicken their trunks up, or to developed taper in the leader. Branch development and ramification can be better controlled in a container. If you are trying to get simple trunk "heft" in the ground, leave all growth alone. Let them grow. Don't prune. You can start pruning for refinement once the trunk has reached the proportions you desire and the tree can be containerized.