Trimming Trees in Tubes

[gasman]

I have searched the site and haven't found what I was looking for, maybe I am just missing it but I thought it was covered already.

Last summer I planted roughly 60 apple seedlings about 24" tall. As soon as most of our 18" of current snow melts I am planning on cleaning out the tubes and checking the trees. Do I trim off the all the branches and leave just the main leader, trim off some of the branches and leave the main leader, or just leave them as they are?

 

[MarkDarvin]

I have searched the site and haven't found what I was looking for, maybe I am just missing it but I thought it was covered already.

Last summer I planted roughly 60 apple seedlings about 24" tall. As soon as most of our 18" of current snow melts I am planning on cleaning out the tubes and checking the trees. Do I trim off the all the branches and leave just the main leader, trim off some of the branches and leave the main leader, or just leave them as they are?

I trim mine down to a central leader. I don't leave any branches go until they develop above or near the top. They seem to grow much better when you get in there each spring, clean out the leaves, and eliminate the crowding from the other branches by taking them off. I've gotten bur oaks from 8 inches to six feet in two springs in a tube by keeping them clean and focused like that.