Example 2

Before pruning

Several stems are growing upright and are competing with the leader. This will need to be corrected. No pruning is needed in the lower portion of the tree because low temporary branches are not aggressive enough. The tree could use the extra growth in the lower trunk so the low branches will not be reduced.

After pruning

Canopy is shaped like an oval after the tree was pruned. The elader is now the tallest part of the tree. Stems were reduced in length using reduction and heading cuts. Reduction cuts result in a wider canopy; heading cuts often result in a more upright, more narrow canopy.