Why is one of these trees forking like crazy?

[Sheal]

Sorry, I still think the left stem is the original leader. From what I can see the top was broken off within the top fork of the left stem, so now the right hand stem is trying to take over as leader.

 

[dirty hands]

Sorry, I still think the left stem is the original leader. From what I can see the top was broken off within the top fork of the left stem, so now the right hand stem is trying to take over as leader.

I see it now. The left one is aligned with the trunk.

 

[cpp gardener]

Cut off whatever pieces you don't want all at once and stake what's left to a single leader. Don't worry about 'gradually' removing branches and letting it 'recover'. I've done both heading cuts to side branches and complete removal of undesirable branches. Young trees, especially, are very tolerant of "brutal" pruning that seems overkill. Just look at what bonsai artists do with their trees and how they respond to the "torture".
I tend to keep the 'mis-placed' branches but cut them to 2-3 buds long. Repeat on new growth until the trunk thickens. This helps develop trunk caliper faster for stronger wood. After 3-5 years you remove the whole 'nurse branch' and let the tree grow on.
They sell plastic-coated aluminum stakes that do a great job of holding weak trunks upright and "straight".

 

[l008com]

So I couldn't think of what to use to stake this tree. I was thinking of asking my neighbor if he has a spare tomato wire thing (he has tons of them) and cutting it up and modifying it.

Meanwhile, I went for a bike ride today and as I was entering the woods, I was really annoyed with all the illegal advertising yard signs people placed along the highway exit near the entrance to the woods.

Then I realized one problem solves another! So at the end of the ride, I grabbed all of the signs, 5 or 6 of them. Tossed all the plastic in the trash, and kept all the metal brackets. I'll throw most of them in the scrap metal pile, but one of them will make a great tree-straightener!

 

[l008com]

I know it was suggested to wait until Winter, but having everything I needed, really made me want to get on this now. So I snipped everything I previously mentioned snipping, used some orange ribbon to tie up whats left to the support rod. It looks alright. These three trees keep looking like they're thriving. I'm most likely going to plant them this fall.

 

[Meadowlark]

If you can @1008com a follow-up report with a photo down the road a bit would be appreciated and informative.

 

[l008com]

Ok, i'm not sure exactly when i'm going to plant them. Probably sometimes in september but it depends on how the weather goes I guess. But I'll take pictures of that. Ugh planting is going to be a pain because theres a lot of asphalt under my yard so I have to dig these holes super deep to make sure theres nothing directly under them, then backfill the hole to normal depth and then plant the trees. Oh well what can you do.

 

[l008com]

Ok new question, that is very on topic.

Right now I have two ribbons holding this tree to a metal stake so it grows UP instead of OUT.

But isn't the wind and the breeze the thing that encourages the wood to grow strong in a tree? So if the steel stake is doing all the work, isn't that going to make the tree grow week and flexible?

Where is the balance between these two things?

Should I tie it up for a week, then let it hang free, then tie it up again, over and over?

 

[Meadowlark]

In my view, the stake should be viewed as a temporary measure to help the tree grow straight. When it's job is finished, it should be removed...and that would be expected to take about a year more or less.

I would check the ties every month or so and adjust as warranted. Kind of like braces on a youngsters teeth slowly producing strong, straight, well rooted foundation.

 

[Sheal]

Be careful that the main stem doesn't rub on the metal stake when it's windy. Personally I'd have used a rounded wooden stake and put a 'bandage' round the tree where the ties are so it doesn't rub.

 

[l008com]

Theres essentially no movement so there is no rubbing.