Hello gbupp. This tree has potential, but it will take time. They mean cut the branches. Here is a virt of some cuts that could be made. There are 2 reasons for these cuts. One, is lack of taper. Notice how your branches all are as thick at the beginning of the branch as the end. They look like tubes. The point where branches eminate from the trunk should be the thickest. As you move along the branch towards the end, the branch should become thinner. By cutting back the branch, and letting a new bud extend. That new bud will always be thinner since it is younger. Hence, where the branch grows out, you will have a look from thick to thin, which is what we mean by taper.
The second thing is thickness, these branches need to thicken and mature so they complement the thick trunk of the tree. To achieve this, you have to let the branches and foliage grow untouched. You can cut the branches back now and then let the younger sub branches grow for a year or more... or you could let the whole thing grow now and cut back in a year or 2. Either way, whenever you cut young branches or sub branches (branches that eminate off a main branch) You will need to wait until you have at least 6-8 pairs of leaves and then you can cut the branch..or until the new branch becomes wood. If you cut a young branch that has not woodened out (hardends off), the branch may dies.
I hope this was helpful.
Rob
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