I've been trying to read about pruning and everything seems to say a "central leader" is needed. My pecan was given to me by a neighbor. We planted it a month ago and it seems happy. It is only about 18 inches tall, but I noticed the single "trunk" stops about halfway up (looks like it was cut-off) and all the leaves come from the two shoots that have branched off just under the cut, one slightly higher than the other. Should I cut one of these shoots off? The most "central" part is the vertical growth that was already cut and it is black at the tip....nothing growing from it. The two shoots both look healthy. Does it matter? I've never planted such a small tree and I've only done pruning to bushes for aesthetic purposes. I'm not really concerned about the yield from the the mature tree...just that it is healthy and strong and provides some shade someday. :)

There are two mature pecans on our property as well and they do not look alike. One has a single trunk with limbs appearing about 7 feet up and another that has a single trunk the first four feet and then it branches into two equal parts, with limbs appearing several feet higher.

Thanks for any help!