[greenhead]

Hi All,

Just taken delivery of 1 year bare root maiden tree, should  it be pruned after planting or left for a season?  There is a leader and four side branches.

Mike.

[New shoot]

This is a pretty comprehensive guide, but your tree may have already been pruned prior to it being sent out.  Check the picture at the top of the page.  If your tree already looks like this, them you can leave it 

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=164

[greenhead]

Thanks new shoot,

The branches look much longer which makes me think the tree has not been pruned before dispatch.  Should pruning as described in the article be done at planting? or leave for tree to get established before the pruning 'shock'?

Mike.

[mumofstig]

Prune the top now, to make up for the 'pruning' that happened to the roots when it was dug up.