A very wise and experienced arborist once said, “Besides planting at the right depth (not too deep), the best thing you can do to avoid tree problems is to prevent double tops on young trees.  All it takes is a pair of hand shears and minute of your time.”

The result of this simple process is that a tight fork will be prevented.  Whether co-dominant leaders or two side branches, tight forks will likely result in included (ingrown) bark that acts like a wedge and creates a weak spot in the tree.  Tending to this issue in the first few years of a tree’s life will save time and money later on – and prevent an accident if a split occurs and half of the offending pair falls to earth.