'Maya'
Email: derek@derekthesmart.com
I like to scale them in towards each other just to make selecting the vertices easier. Click image for larger version.
Select the Vertices of the edge you just extruded Click image for larger version.
Merge them together. Click image for larger version.
Now move the final vertex down in the Y direction to make a flat cap for the tree trunk. Click image for larger version.
Now we are going to Unwrap the UVs so later on we can apply a texture to the tree. Select the trunk in Object Mode and apply Cylindrical Mapping.
Click image for larger version.
Now Select the top faces of your trunk and from the Top Viewport apply Planar Mapping.