there is nothing to fear in pruning...

explain.. why you think that needs to be pruned???? ... we prune for a variety or reasons... even simply 'whim' ... but no tree ever really needs to be pruned ... so i dont understand what you read.. that makes you think that ' I may have to cut a large chunk as the tree grows.'

i am surprised that little tree holds up that full bird feeder.. how do you have that attached ....

ken

Well, the branch is about 3 feet high off the ground. As the tree gets older, I would like enough clearance to stand under the tree. So in order for that clearance, I would need to cut that branch off. The branch is an inch and a half wide at the collar. So should I prune it? As for the bird feeder, It's secured by a rope around a strong branch.

you can raise the canopy.. as high as you wish.. mine is at about 8 feet ....

but you still havent defined why it can not have two trunks.. at that height ...

i think mine bifurcates at about 5 feet ....

mine is going on 12 to 18 feet wide... it would make no difference if it had two trunks at that height .. i can still stand under it ....

can you favor me.. with a pic of the whole ...

but be clear.. you can prune your tree.. any way you want.. what i am trying to express.. apparently poorly.. is that we usually have a goal as to what we want to accomplish ...

and your goal.. SEEMS ... to be simply.. that you read it somewhere ...

why do you feel that branch has to be cut off???

ken

I do see your point now after much thought. The tree can have two trunks. I never thought of it like that. I saw this second trunk as just a lower branch. I do apologize for my apparent stupidity.

I do apologize for my apparent stupidity.

==>>> naaaww ... come on..

trying to teach you here ... so dont take any of it personally ...

looking at your chair.. and where your head presumably would be... i would probably take the bottom two branches....

i would do it when i walked by with my tree saw ... others might have a favored time ...

one thing for sure... we could see structure better when its leafless ... and winter is probably a good time to prune ....

i would also check for any damaged or crossing branches .... and too much congestion in the center ....

ken

Thanks man! You've been a big help!