LST Trimmen

Those should be fine. Always use an anchor on opposite side of where you bend the top down. This will help reduce stress on roots and mostly eliminate it if you do it correctly. just something pulling in opposite direction at base of apical meristem (trunk). bend it down gently. may need to bend in a few places to get it approaching horizontal - doesn't have to be perfect, but don't be afraid to get near that or achieve it. you should prune anything below the bend, even on a shorter vege. if limited leaves, don't trim them, but the auxiliary buds for sure are going nowhere, if below the bend. also, take note of the direction you bend it. Look at the plant. growth alternates 90=degrees. Bend down between that to allow as many auxiliary buds to grow north in an easy path. If it has to circle around the trunk or another branch, it's going to stetch and or take too long. it'll be weak colas. as far as removing a leaf... if you do it this way, maybe 1 or 2 at most. if something is direction covering numerous auxiliary buds and will cause uneccessary stretch, remove it... if you can bend it out of the way do that. typically 1 large leave may be covering the 'spine'. use a stake in middle of plant as it gets longer. Avoid an arch, if possible. Let the top grow vertically when you want it to catch up. in general, it'll quickly do so. how long you vege will impact what you do over time. longer the vege period, the more likely you are to prune useless limbs, but in a shorter vege period, those limbs are very useful. i rarely trim a plant. Sometimes on a longer vege i may clean them up for air flow and to prevent any uneccessary stretch within canopy. even some pruning on a longer vege. i do like to defoliate about 14 days into bloom. i'll take off more leaves then than any other time, but still only for very specific and selective reasons.