Central Leader Method / Pyramid Method

Training to a central leader produces a tree that has a pyramid shape.

Newly Planted Young Trees

Bare Root Trees With or Without Branches:

Planting Time: If your newly planted tree is a whip (it has no branches and looks like a long stick) cut the trunk at a height of about 32 inches. This will stimulate branches to grow along the trunk, and the topmost bud that branches out will become the central leader. For a new tree that already has side branches, cut back the trunk to 32 inches. Cut off any branches along the trunk between the ground and 24 inches high. Cut back any remaining side branches to 2 to 4 inches, leaving no more than 2 buds on each branch stub

First Summer: Make sure the top shoot becomes the leader. Pinch back all other shoots.

First Winter: If there has been a lot of new growth, choose 3 to 5 branches for the first set of scaffold branches. These branches should spiral around the trunk with about 4 inches (10 cm) vertical distance between each branch. Cut off the other side branches and any vertical branches that may compete with the leader. Prune back the main leader shoot, but keep it as the highest part of the tree to maintain your pyramid shape.

Second Summer: Make sure that the top shoot is growing vertically, cut off any competing shoots.

Second Winter: Select another set of scaffold branches 2 to 3 feet higher than the first set. If the tree didn't grow enough the second year, do this the third winter.

Thereafter: Keep doing the above until you have 3 or 4 sets of scaffold branches. Then simply keep that shape by pruning out watersprouts and any crossing, diseased, or unwanted branches. Try to keep the lower branches longer than the upper ones to maintain the shape.

2-Year Container Grown Tree With Branches:

Start at "Thereafter" above.