I wanted to start a thread for this Sharp's Pygmy I found at a nursery.

First pic is mid October when I got the tree and the others were taken today post leaf drop.

The pic with the paper towel is a mock up of the cut I plan to make after winter. This will be the front (nebari). There are a few other spots where there are 3-5 branches coming from the same place that I need to figure out what to do with. Feel free to leave any comments or suggestions. Thanks.

NC, USA

Nice little tree you have there.

I think you have no other option than to cut that indeed. But remember.. 3D trees

Easy, just don't ever look at the back.

Kidding but yes, 3D trees. I figure it won't look pretty for a while, but I'm hoping time and wire can fix it in the coming years.

What do you think about developing a lower branch? There are buds at that scar on the right side of the trunk and about an inch lower on the back side. I figure they can at least be sacrificial branches, but will they ever get to a point where they are thick enough to be proportional to the other branches? I guess we will see, but I think the balance would be improved if there was low pad on the right/back side.