Douglas Fir Co-dominant Leader Decision

A vigorous upright branch 2 feet up on a 7-8 foot Douglas fir creates a co-dominant stem situation. Left unchecked, this leads to a forked trunk with included bark—a structural weakness prone to splitting.

Recommended Action

Remove the competing leader now. At this size, the wound will seal quickly, and the tree will develop a single, strong trunk. Benefits:

• Eliminates future fork failure risk
• Promotes symmetrical canopy development
• Minimal stress at current size
• No special timing needed—cut cleanly at branch collar

If Retained

The tree becomes multi-stemmed. As diameters increase, the narrow attachment compresses bark between stems (included bark), creating a weak union. Storms eventually split one stem, often destroying half the tree.

Early correction is simple, free, and prevents decades of structural liability. Your front-yard specimen deserves a single, strong trunk.