kcpoole

the only way I know to control branch thickness is to pinch and trim it.

If you leave a branch on a tree to grow unhindered, then it will grow and thicken much faster than one that you pinch

As an experiment, grab a fast growing tree that has has 2 branches at a similar height, and let 1 grow freely and the other trim and pinch as you would do to any developed bonsai.
ie cut back to the 1st pair of leaves and then let 2 new shoots grow to several leaves and repeat

check the difference of the 2 brances over a growing season. This will also help you get an appreciation of "ramification" and how to develop it.

constricting the roots as we do in bonsai pot will affect the whole tree and not just 1 branch

Ken

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