How to Prune Young Trees
Trees that receive the proper pruning when they are younger will require far less corrective pruning when they are older. There are a few principals to keep in mind when pruning young trees.
Make sure that you have a purpose behind the cutting of every branch or limb. Remember that each cut has the potential to change the course of how the tree grows. Too much trimming can also permanently damage the tree so be careful how much you cut away.
Small cuts do far less damage than large cuts, try to keep this in mind. When you make a cut, you’re also creating a wound that needs to heal. If the wound is large enough and does not heal in time, it will surely attract pests such as insects and disease. Both of which can kill the young tree.
Really at this point in time, the pruning of freshly planted trees should be limited to dead or broken branches. It’s far too delicate a plant to go crazy making unnecessary cuts. The main tools you can use include hand pruners, lopping shears, and a pruning saw.