tree pruning with a bad trunk shape

head back all the growing tips! of the smaller diameter trunk off the lower V on the right. then head back all the tips of the branches of the higher V on the left so the ONLY growing tip(s) is on the branch centered in the middle. as the tree grows those headed back trunks will become branches with a better crotch.

may take years. >Does anyone have some advice for pruning this tree (see pictures) ?

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I think it is too late.

Thanks for the advice Ingrid. Travis, if you think it's too late would you suggest I just leave it as is?

It doesn't have to be a quick fix, we aren't moving for at least 10 years.

If you had pruned out the smaller of the branches when the tree was very young the remaining branch would have become the central leader.

As is the tree is prone to split at the "Y". I would still take out the smaller branch and hope for the best.

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Thanks again everyone.

I received another email telling me the tree looks like a 'silver maple' which can be nuissance (lots of feeder roots, helicopter fruit droppings...) and maybe I should just remove it altogther.

I like the fact that it's a big tree, it is helping shield some road noise, but we do have a pool close by so the fruit droppings would be a problem. I live in Ottawa Canada BTW.

I think at this point I might as well just aggresively prune the small branch without removing it completely and hope that the central branch grows stronger.

Here's some basic advice:

Avoid "limbing up" and stripping out the interior; low branches support development of a strong trunk.

good luck, Keith Babberney ISA Certified Arborist