Training The Leader Of Our Dawn Redwood? A 2026 Project - March 2026

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It may not be super easy to tell in this photo below, but our Dawn Redwood tree has continued to grow.  And it is taking on a nice upright-ish form.  But, the apical meristem - the leader - is wandering.  It isn't straight up in the air, but rather...leaning back.  My thought here is that a potential 2026 project might be to try to pull the leader back into a more-upright position.  A rope, plus some sort of trunk/bark protection (like a piece of garden hose) pulled tight to a stake to help train it back to be more upright? 

Or....should I prune this a bit more to clear out some competition?  Maybe both?

Location: Downers Grove, IL, USA

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