Best technique ?

Spreading a plant out never hurts, but outside the plant is swimming in photons from all angles. you don't have to do anything too extreme. Just splay it out a bit and get some good penetration of light Think of where the buds were maybe not as good as the rest last year.. any way to increase light to those areas without reducing too much elsewhere? get creative. In the end, some simple shaping outward and maybe a few well placed stakes will give you 95% of potential yield, all other factors remaining the same.