Fruits and Nuts: How NOT to prune a Tree 2: Take me to your Leader, 0 by pollengarden

pollengarden wrote:
The Branch at the top center (with a fat healthy terminal bud) of a conical-shaped evergreen or shade tree is the Leader. When you buy a tree, it should have one - and only one. If it doesn't have one because something happened to the terminal bud, it will try to grow a new one or two or three. This narrow crotch will be weak and prone to splitting.

The picture is of the top of an Austrian Pine that lost its leader two years ago. I should have removed all but one last year, but they were both looking a little "iffy" (at least that is my excuse). I will have to cut one back this year.