Do you keep yours in full sun ???
The leaves usually will reduce with the help of alot of sun and defoliating.
The only prob. with full sun is they sometimes don't want to throw ariels...
Regardless, I think you are off to a really good start.
The ones that go up and form a "Y"...
I usually will pick one of the branches and wire it down into my first branch.
Sometimes a little angle change might be required in the replanting.
And yes, Burt Davi are nice to work with.