I would be rather tempted to prune that very long shoot where there is a gap between leaflets so it's not weighing the other branches over and would make it look more 'balanced'.
Thanks @Lizzie27. On both of the trees (that's two pictures of two different trees) there is a very long "central" branch that's really bent over, are you suggesting to cut that right back to the node?
Sorry, didn't realize there were two trees! Where you prune it depends on what you would like the tree to do. Do you want height quickly or more of a feathery top? Are they bending over because the prevailing wind is blowing them that way? If height is more important to you then I would wait to see if they straighten up with less wind and more sunshine. If you want more of a feathery effect, then I would cut just that one long branch about the top of the fence level. It should then develop two more branches.
I might be completely wrong of course so perhaps you'd better wait and see if any others have better suggestions!
No worries, @Lizzie27. I don't think I was very clear on the initial post.
To be honest I'm not sure what I want. When I bought them online I hadn't expected them to be so tall, not that I minded. In the recent windy they just got battered. Maybe I'll see if they recover, as you suggest, if not I'll prune them.
They are very tall and skinny aren’t they? I think your stakes are far too short, and you only have them tied in at the bottom. Usually you would stake at least two-thirds of the way up the clear trunk and have a tree tie at the top of the stake, staked against the prevailing wind. I would prune back that overlong branch on the tree in the foreground of the photos too, so it’s more in proportion with the rest of the canopy.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
The long top branch shows no sign of correction itself and I’m worried that the the tree is also going to be pulled into a slanting position. I don’t think I have planted it badly, it’s just the weight of the long branch pulling it over.
As has been suggested, I think I should cut that branch back (this applies to both trees btw) but where do I make the cut? Should I cut it right back to the node/joint or leave a bit sticking out?
What do I do to counter the fact that it is being pulled to one side so badly, in the mean time? Should I move the stake to pull it more upright again? Or add another stake?
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Are they bending over because the prevailing wind is blowing them that way?
If height is more important to you then I would wait to see if they straighten up with less wind and more sunshine. If you want more of a feathery effect, then I would cut just that one long branch about the top of the fence level. It should then develop two more branches.
I might be completely wrong of course so perhaps you'd better wait and see if any others have better suggestions!
To be honest I'm not sure what I want. When I bought them online I hadn't expected them to be so tall, not that I minded. In the recent windy they just got battered. Maybe I'll see if they recover, as you suggest, if not I'll prune them.
Thanks, as always
Do not cut anything till winter and tree is dormant.
What do I do to counter the fact that it is being pulled to one side so badly, in the mean time? Should I move the stake to pull it more upright again? Or add another stake?