Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: Pruning Taxodium, 1 by Penn_Pete

Penn_Pete wrote:
Hi e-guy. If you mean you have 2 or 3 co-leaders about one or 2 ft long (25-50cm), you don't have to do anything.

T. distichum has evolved to grow in tight conditions and broken tops and still maintain the rounded shape. In the South Florida these clumps are called Cypress Domes because from the distance, the flat prairies are broken by what seem to be hemispheric domes. In some places, the Cypress Trees are the only perch for clouds of birds with the result that many of the trees that seem so perfect from the distance have co-leaders. Somehow the tree only sends auxin to one of the leaders and the tree continues its symetry. Below is a photo of mine taken today. The strong branches are interspersed with little ones, with the former being one of the co-leaders. You can see at the top of mine that there is not a single leader.