Yanks twigs back every so often, to make neat-looking tree? (5)
I believe the answer is:
sitka
'make neat-looking tree?' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't tell whether it can be defined by this definition.
'yanks twigs back every so often' is the wordplay.
'yanks' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen 'Yank' mean this ('yank' can mean to pull around and move)).
'every so often' indicates alternate letters.
'twigs'+'back'='twigsback'
The alternating letters of 'twigsback' are 'tisak'.
'tisak' is an anagram of 'SITKA'.
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sitka that I've seen before include "Type of spruce" , "Source of wood" , "Variety of spruce" .)