If timely shaping is done at the end of the first year or the second to fourth years, and the top and side branches competing with the trunk are repaired, the trunk can be straight and intact.

In nurseries, the terminal buds formed by seedlings before early frost are often not full enough, the top lignification is poor, and the terminal buds are weak, which creates favorable opportunities for the lower lateral buds to compete with the terminal buds.

At the top of 2-4 year old saplings, we can often see 1-2 strong side branches competing with the main branches. Terminal bud damage during transport of seedlings may also lead to this outcome and trunk bending. To avoid this phenomenon, before afforestation, the thin and weak leaf tips with poor lignification and incompleteness can be cut off to about 2 cm above the strong lateral buds at the top. Proper cuttings will not reduce high growth.